Every So often, the newswoman in me grabs a story that’s worth becoming part of our Hot Topic Sizzle.
But before I start…. a little self promotion is in order. If you notice the picture to the left talks about ‘Cancer Fighting Foods’. Remember last year I was on stage at the Fairgrounds 4 times? Well I’m there this Thursday and next Thursday at 1pm, with that same topic once again. Hope you’ll stop by.
Back to today’s Hot Topic Sizzle: I have been hearing stories about Whole Foods, on so many levels over the past couple of years and am now seeing things happening at the stores that quite frankly, surprise me.
LIKE WHAT CHEF?
Well, when I think of Whole Foods, I think ‘healthy and organic … a little over priced but a great place to shop’. But the times they are a changin’. The first thing I heard last year is that they are putting in some kind of customer appreciation card. Have you seen that yet? I haven’t.
Then I heard rumblings from Chefs and regular consumers that you can no longer trust that just because its’ on their shelves it’s healthy. Back to that old saying: “Read your labels”! And when I did just that, I agreed. Not everything on their shelves is healthy. I’ve even had friends tell me they’re not shopping there anymore.
You can’t cut and paste what they say on their website (no idea why they wouldn’t want you to) but here’s what they are saying (paraphrasing):
They agree that in a couple of years or more (by 2018) you will know if something in their stores has or has not been genetically modified. So, what does that mean? I think they are saying that right now they’ve got things on their shelves that are genetically modified, just not labeled properly.
According to some of my best resources including the New York Times: “Some organic farmers contend that Whole Foods is quietly using its formidable marketing skills and its credibility with consumers to convey that conventionally grown produce is just as good — or even better — than their organically grown products. Shoppers can choose from fruits and vegetables carrying the designation of “good,” “better” or “best.”
Well, I’m sorry. That’s crap. And it gets even worse:
The longtime suppliers to Whole Foods are complaining that the program can grant a farmer who does not meet the stringent requirements for federal organic certification the same rating as an organic farmer, or even a higher one. Conventional growers can receive higher rankings than organic farmers by doing things like establishing a garbage recycling program, relying more on alternative energy sources, eliminating some pesticides and setting aside a portion of fields as a conservation area.
Buyer beware!
I can’t totally ‘diss’ Whole Foods, because they do carry food the regular stores just don’t, like Vegan Marshmallow’s. But I do have to say that both Costco and Ralph’s are giving them a good run for their money. I purchased a large bag of Organic Ancient Quinoa at a reasonable price at Costco’s, and when I can, I use Ralph’s Organic Produce and their Organic Canned Goods, which are way less expensive and equally good to Sprouts and Whole Foods. The only other store that gets my business is Jimbo’s. The only other store that has great organic veggies is Jimbo’s (although I’m not always crazy about their onions).
I think Jimbo’s is closer to what Whole Foods had hoped to be, especially in their Del Mar location.
Happy Eating,
