News: Major grocery chain to require labels on genetically modified foods

GMO labelling may not be required in Canada, but Whole Foods Market has decided that by 2018, it will be’at least in their stores.

In Canada, most of our wheat, soy, canola oil and corn is genetically modified’in fact, Canada is the third largest producer of genetically modified organisms in the world, according to Environment Canada.

While many European and Asian countries either require labelling, or have banned GMOs outright, in Canada, no such mandate is in place.

That’s all about to change for Whole Foods customers, though.

‘Whole Foods Market commits to full GMO transparency by giving supplier partners five years to source non-GMO ingredients or to clearly label products with ingredients containing GMOs,’ a blog entry on the Whole Foods website states.

‘We heard our customers loud and clear asking us for GMO labelling and we are responding where we have control: in our own stores.’

The grocery chain says their customers have a right to know what’s in their food.

“The government has not been willing to take on this issue,” Whole Foods Co-Chief Executive Walter Robb told the L.A. Times. “So it’s going to have to happen differently.”

What do you think of Whole Foods’ new mandate? Do you think all grocery stores in Canada should follow suit?

Related:
‘ Debate: Should Canada label GMO foods?
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