TRADER JOE'S says: NO GMO's!!!

In my quest for education on genetically modified organisms in our food supply, I've become obsessive about reading every single ingredient... pondering on each one... It takes twice the time to shop, these days!! One of my favorite places for healthy food staples, is TRADER JOE'S. However, recently I realized one favorite product, their 3-pack mini 72% dark chocolate bars, contained soy lecithin, and since it was NOT organic, I simply had to panic!!!!

I wondered, "Am I doomed to purchasing only organic dark chocolate, and paying twice the price for it"??? Bit, by bit I'm checking around. First things first: TRADER JOE'S!!!

Because I spend so many of my purchasing dollars there, I had some homework to do. I needed to find out how conscious this company actually was. So, I went in and started talking to a few employees. They assured me all products were NON-GMO even though there was no mention of it, anywhere... on any label in the store.

So, I visited the TRADER JOE'S website, and here is what I found:

TRADER JOE'S Products are Sourced from Non-GMO Ingredients. Our customers can be assured all products in TRADER JOE'S private label are sourced from non-genetically modified ingredients. Our efforts began in 2001, when we determined, given a choice, our customers would prefer to eat foods and beverages made without the use of genetically engineered ingredients. Our process has been to identify any product containing ingredients that could potentially be derived from genetically engineered crops and work with suppliers to replace offending ingredients with acceptable alternatives.

This makes me very happy. I am a very, very happy camper, today. Just remember: they are only guaranteeing their own private-label products. If you purchase something from TRADER JOE'S without their label, you will need to do your homework. Most of the products at TRADER JOE'S are their own private label. That's what they tend to do with manufacturers or vendors... eventually most of their vendors become TRADER JOE'S Private Label... although not every single product... but, more and more, all the time.

Now.... let's see what Fresh 'N Easy has to say.... which is another place I like to shop for affordable products, like goats milk, 71% giant dark chocolate bars, soba buckwheat noodles, organic coconut palm sugar, and a few other things... so, I'll get back to you and report on what I find.

Just remember, wherever it is you shop, be sure to let the owner/manager/employees know you are looking for NON GMO PRODUCTS. And, be an ACTIVIST!!! Call your favorite manufacturers... take that extra step.... let THEM know you are on a mission to get GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS OUT OF YOUR FOOD.... and therefore, they need to source their ingredients from suppliers who are FREE of GMOs or lose your patronage.