Whole Foods to Label All Genetically Modified Food

Chain sets 5-year deadline in what could be a 'game changer'
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 8, 2013 5:59 PM CST
Whole Foods to Label All Genetically Modified Food
A Whole Foods grocery store in Dedham, Mass.   (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

In an industry first, Whole Foods promises that all genetically modified food sold in its stores will be clearly labeled as GMO products by 2018, reports NBC News. The chain says there's a growing demand by consumers to choose, but it's difficult to do so because current law doesn't require such labeling. It's also smart business, adds President AC Gallo. “We’ve seen how our customers have responded to the products we do have labeled," he says. “Some of our manufacturers say they’ve seen a 15% increase in sales of products" certified as non-GMO.

The move could prove to be a big deal, reports the New York Times. One advocate from the group Just Label It calls it a "game changer" and says it could have the same effect as Walmart's decision a while back to stop selling milk from cows injected with growth hormone. As a result of Walmart's move, relatively few dairy cows around the US now get the hormone. (More Whole Foods stories.)

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