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Whole Foods' Labels Tell Half the Story

Food chain's labels don't provide enough information about allergens

By Wesley Oliver,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 23, 2008 10:45 AM CST
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(Newser) – Eat, drink, and be wary, chocolate lovers: Whole Foods may not be telling you the whole story about its premium chocolate bars, reports the Chicago Tribune. In an investigation into product labels that promised “good manufacturing practices.” the Trib found that the supermarket chain’s chocolate bars contained traces of allergens—the latest example of how food chains, with little accountability and unchecked food labels, are misleading consumers.

One issue is cross-contamination, in which product ingredients unintentionally mix. Many companies voluntarily disclose the potential threat, but some simply are protecting themselves from lawsuits, the FDA found. At Whole Foods, more than 300 products bear the “good manufacturing” label. “If you’re going to do that,” said an allergy expert, “you had better have your act together 110% of the time.”

The story of the Whole Foods chocolate bars is just one example of how consumers are at the mercy of a food chain with little accountability and labels that are not policed for accuracy.
The story of the Whole Foods chocolate bars is just one example of how consumers are at the mercy of a food chain with little accountability and labels that are not policed for accuracy.   (AP Photo/Mike Derer, File)
Like most food store chains, Whole Foods uses a web of contractors to produce its private label offerings.
Like most food store chains, Whole Foods uses a web of contractors to produce its private label offerings.   (AP Photo/Harry Cabluck)
A Whole Food spokeswoman said, We sell millions of individual products each year, and the number of substantiated allergen related-incidents that we see are in the single digits.
A Whole Food spokeswoman said, ""We sell millions of individual products each year, and the number of substantiated allergen related-incidents that we see are in the single digits."   (Shutter Stock)
The Chicago Tribune sent a Whole Foods Organic Swiss Dark Chocolate bar to the Nebraska lab. The candy's label said the bar may contain tree nuts and milk, and test results showed that it did.
The Chicago Tribune sent a Whole Foods Organic Swiss Dark Chocolate bar to the Nebraska lab. The candy's label said the bar "may contain" tree nuts and milk, and test results showed that it did.   (Shutter Stock)
Even companies such as Whole Foods that market themselves as a healthier choice may know little about the safety of their products.
Even companies such as Whole Foods that market themselves as a healthier choice may know little about the safety of their products.   (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)
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If you are going to do that, you had better have your act together 110% of the time - Steve Taylor, director of the University of Nebraska 's allergen lab, on Whole Foods' labeling practices

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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
Guest
Nov 22, 2008 11:30 PM CST
Typical corporation bull but from a supposed " friend of the consumer ".

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FDA • organic food • milk • Whole Foods • gluten • chocolate • label • food allergies • tree nuts • Soy • peanut • consumers

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