Northwest Whole Foods stores switch to non-GMO chicken for prepared foods
Whole Foods Market stores in Oregon and Washington will exclusively use organic or Non-GMO Project verified poultry for house-made chicken dishes and rotisserie chickens.
August 5, 2014
Whole Foods Market stores in Oregon and Washington will exclusively use organic or Non-GMO Project verified poultry for house-made chicken dishes and rotisserie chickens, the company announced.
“It’s clear from listening to our customers that we’ve reached a tipping point when it comes to their preference for greater availability of products free from GMO ingredients,” Joe Rogoff, president of the company’s Pacific Northwest Region, said in a media release. “Making this transition hasn’t been easy, but we’ve worked very hard with our supplier partners, who share our commitment to transparency, and we’re very excited to share these Non-GMO Project verified chicken dishes with our customers.”
Whole Foods has 15 stores in Oregon and Washington.
The retailer previously announced support for Oregon’s Measure 92, a ballot initiative that would mandate GMO labeling on raw and packaged goods. Whole Foods said its Oregon-based employees would work with the Yes on Measure 92 campaign team to help pass the measure. The state will vote on the initiative in November.
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"We label ingredients, we label allergens, we label nutrients, and we label countries of origin. Why wouldn't we also require labeling for genetic modification? The time has come for the people of Oregon to let their voices be heard and make a change," Rogoff said in a separate media release.
Whole Foods plans to label all products in its U.S. and Canada stores that contain GMO ingredients by 2018.