Whole Foods Sets Deadline for GMO Labeling

Whole Foods Market has taken an unprecedented step in mandating food labeling. On March 8, the natural foods supermarket giant announced that by 2018, all products in its stores in the U.S. and Canada must be labeled if they contain genetically modified organisms, which have been manipulated through genetic engineering by introducing changes into DNA structure. This makes Whole Foods the first national grocery store to set a GMO labeling deadline.

The move comes at a time when interest is building in non-GMO products. According to a recent poll by The Huffington Post in partnership with YouGov, nearly 82 percent of Americans want labels for GMO food. During last November's elections, a mandatory labeling initiative known as Prop 37 was defeated in California, a move largely attributed to millions of dollars being spent against the measure by big corporations like Monsanto. Nearly 60 countries around the world have already banned or restricted GMOs.

The issue isn't without controversy. GMOs have proliferated the food supply across the world over the past 15+ years, with most corn and soybean crops using these organisms. Many in the food industry debate if there is adequate proof that GMOs pose any health or food safety concerns; the Food and Drug Administration says evidence is inconclusive. Proponents of GMOs argue that they are engineered to thrive in extreme weather and can help prevent crop shortages and global malnutrition.

In making the announcement, co-CEO Walter Robb said Whole Foods views the move as "putting a stake in the ground to support a consumer's right to know." The bottom line is really about giving shoppers the information they need to make informed choices. Clear and mandatory labeling on products is the most straightforward way to do this. Without it, consumers are in the dark as to the details of how the food they are purchasing is made.