Whole Foods Says All GMO Products to Be Labeled by 2018

Whole Foods Market has committed to alerting customers to which products contain genetically modified organisms.

According to The Huffington Post, Whole Foods announced that by 2018, all products in U.S. and Canada stores will be labeled if they contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Whole Foods will be the first national grocery store to set a deadline from GMO labeling, The Huffington Post states.

“We are putting a stake in the ground on GMO labeling to support the consumer’s right to know,” said Walter Robb, co-CEO of Whole Foods Market, said in a press release on the company's web site. “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.”

Whole Foods has two locations in Newton, including one in Newtonville and another at the corner of Walnut Street and Beacon Street.

In the release, Whole Foods states it has been collaborating with many of its supplier partners for several years to source products without GMO ingredients. Whole Foods Market currently sells 3,300 Non-GMO Project verified products from 250 brands.

In the release Whole Foods stated it is making this move after hearing from customers they would like more transparency with GMO products. 

“We’re responding to our customers, who have consistently asked us for GMO labeling and we are doing so by focusing on where we have control: in our own stores,” said Robb.

What do you think? Should all GMO products be labeled? Will this influence your shopping? Let us know in the comments below.