Trader Joe's: GMO free?

brianlux

Their official statement on GMOs reads:

"Our approach to Genetically Modified Organisms is simple: we do not allow GMO ingredients in our private label products (anything with Trader Joe’s, Trader Jose’s, Trader Ming’s, etc. on the label)."

But wait! Is this true?

http://foodbabe.com/2013/08/07/what-is-trader-joes-hiding/?sb

Given what Trader Joe’s tells us about their GMO policy, we should trust them, right? Or are we trusting them just like many consumers trusted Naked Juice, Tostitos, Kashi, Gold Fish, Barbara’s Bakery, etc. who are or have been faced with lawsuits finding suspected GMOs in their so-called “natural” products?

During my research, I found out there is no regular independent third party certifier verifying their products are non-GMO on a regular basis at Trader Joe’s. It is completely up to Trader Joe’s product supply team to regulate GMOs from suppliers – not the Non-GMO Project or the USDA (for organics) that requires a high level of standards and third party testing before stating a product can be deemed free of GMOs. If there are complaints about a product, Trader Joe’s will conduct verification with a secret third party that they won’t disclose, but it’s completely up to the consumer to alert Trader Joe’s with a complaint.

In fact, Trader Joe’s stated that their products “don’t allow for auditing using the Non-GMO Project because there is an additional cost associated with that.” A representative from Trader Joe’s went on to say, “We tend to not label our products a whole lot, and won’t until there is a government regulation to understand what non-GMO even means, we aren’t going to label products that don’t have specific FDA guidelines.” So this begs the question – what does non-GMO mean to Trader Joe’s? Are they making up their own definition because they claim they don’t have direction from a governmental official?

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polaris_x

i would say this is more of a function of how hard it is to actually get that information ... the food lobby is too powerful ... i'm not a trader joe's fanboy by any stretch but i suspect the lack of transparency is related more to the difficulty in auditing the product chain than anything else ...

MayDay10

I read this awhile back. Its really just a bunch of noise on some strange crusade by this "Food Babe".

I love Trader Joe's because the food is good and it is cheap. I do not believe I am shopping on a free range farm or even whole foods and anyone who feels that way is mistaken.

backseatLover12

I forget where I read it, but Whole Foods isn't all that transparent either. So don't be thinking it's better than Trader Joes. Besides, it's much more expensive!

I just go by the motto that there is no company that's completely good for the customer unless it's non-profit. As long as someone somewhere is making a profit, I can't believe everything they say.

MayDay10

I have never been, dont have them around here. I just figured/thought they were legit.

backseatLover12

Well, Trader Joe's is healthier food in general, and it's affordable and it's good food, so that's why I go there. And they have the best hummus! As for frozen food, I question it all.

polaris_x

whole foods supports gmo ... the ceo is like libertarian ...

brianlux

backseatLover12 said:

I forget where I read it, but Whole Foods isn't all that transparent either. So don't be thinking it's better than Trader Joes. Besides, it's much more expensive!

I just go by the motto that there is no company that's completely good for the customer unless it's non-profit. As long as someone somewhere is making a profit, I can't believe everything they say.

I've heard similar re. Whole Foods. The name is supposed to imply "healthy" but really it's just big business. TJ's is a bit better but again, not so groovy and organic as they would have you believe. The best food comes out of local organic sources- your garden, a friends garden, trading/bartering with friends and trusted vendors at local farmer's markets. We're members of our local food co-op (Placerville Natural Foods Cooperative) and as for larger chain type stores, we're fortunate to have a Raley's here (part of Raley's Family of Fine Stores which was founded in Placerville) which carries a good selection of organic produce. Also, I encourage people to shop locally.

chadwick

we have no whole foods or trader joe's here. our livestock here carries on in pastures even chickens are outdoors running amok as are some farms raising outdoor piglets. amish or mennonite farmers' hens laying brown eggs - great & the most expensive eggs in the market

http://organic.about.com/od/organicindustrybasics/f/When-Is-Organic-Really-Organic.htm

i like getting these but geewiz can they charge a guy at my local grocery store that carries these eggs
Cage Free
Large Omega 3
http://www.farmershenhouse.com/
the farms are about 90 miles away or i'd just show up there buying eggs from the source

unsung

polaris_x said:

whole foods supports gmo ... the ceo is like libertarian ...

groan.

unsung

I buy my eggs direct from the farm, usually at about ten dozen at a time. We bought 40 dozen prior to this past winter and I'm ready to get back down there, those chickens need to start laying eggs again.

brianlux

unsung said:

I buy my eggs direct from the farm, usually at about ten dozen at a time. We bought 40 dozen prior to this past winter and I'm ready to get back down there, those chickens need to start laying eggs again.

Yeah, that's the way to go. We have a few friends in the area we buy eggs from. One of those friends in particular had quite an assortment of hen breeds so we often get a wild assortment of different colored eggs and they're always fresh and good. For those living in bigger cities, hopefully you have a good farmers market. Both San Francisco and Seattle had great farmers markets- maybe still do.