Whole Foods
announced today that by 2018 it will label all products to indicate whether they contain GMOs (Genetically modified organisms.) The announcement was made at the Natural Products Expo West. Whole Foods says it is the first national grocery chain to set a deadline for full GMO transparency.
Walter Robb, co-CEO of Whole Foods Market, had this to say about the new policy:
"We are putting a stake in the ground on GMO labeling to support the consumer’s right to know. The prevalence of GMOs in the U.S. paired with nonexistent mandatory labeling makes it very difficult for retailers to source non-GMO options and for consumers to choose non-GMO products. Accordingly, we are stepping up our support of certified organic agriculture, where GMOs are not allowed, and we are working together with our supplier partners to grow our non-GMO supply chain to ensure we can continue to provide these choices in the future."
The project has been in the works for some time. The company says it has been working with suppliers to obtain products that are GMO free for a number of years. It plans to increase the number of those products, while making sure GMO products are labeled accurately.
