Do the Whole Foods Market quality standards prohibit GMOs?
No. It's impossible for us to exclude GMOs as an overarching standard at this time, since government regulations don't require the disclosure of GMOs in food. Our quality standards for food prohibit the use of artificial colorings, flavorings, preservatives, hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup and other specific ingredients.
Do some of the products sold at Whole Foods Market contain GMOs?
Yes, nearly all grocery stores in the US sell foods with GMOs. They are pervasive — over 70% of packaged foods in the US contain GMOs. The US government does not require GMO foods to be labeled. Get tips for How to Shop if You're Avoiding GMOs.
What is Whole Foods Market's position on GMOs and labeling?
We've long believed that consumers have a right to know what's in your food. We strongly support mandatory labeling of GMO-derived food. We believe that government-mandated labeling of GMO ingredients would enable shoppers, retailers and manufacturers to make purchasing decisions that reflect their beliefs.
We are the first national grocery chain committed to providing full GMO (genetically modified organism) transparency for our customers by 2018.
We are well on our way to meeting our 2018 deadline. Currently, we offer over 25,000 certified organic items and about 11,000 Non-GMO Project Verified products in our stores.*
Our GMO transparency initiative includes all of the food we sell and it take time to work through all of the details. We are working hard on this process and are committed to providing our customers the information they desire to help them make choices — something that isn’t available anywhere else.