The announcement by Whole Foods leverages the visibility on the subject of mandatory labeling, increasing awareness to a mission that independent retailers nationwide long since initiated. INFRA applauds Whole Foods and other retailers who are supporting the labeling initiative.

Independent Natural Food Retailers Association (INFRA) members have been and continue to make changes to their product selections to avoid GMOs by choosing products with ingredients that are organic or non-GMO verified through the Non-GMO Project. Many INFRA stores have been in the forefront of GMO labeling and have taken a lead in pushing manufacturers to remove GMOs from their products. Some INFRA stores have already put policies into place that say they will not allow any new products into their store if the product contains any at risk GMO ingredients unless the product has been verified by the Non-GMO Project or the ingredient is organic.

“INFRA has been fortunate to have the two founding retailers of the Non-GMO Project as part of their association. This connection and networking has allowed our independent retailers to be on the forefront of requesting verification from industry partners and/or removing products with high risk ingredients from their shelves,” says Corinne Shindelar, INFRA CEO. The announcement by Whole Foods leverages the visibility on the subject of mandatory labeling, increasing awareness to a mission that independent retailers nationwide long since initiated. INFRA applauds Whole Foods and other retailers who are supporting the labeling initiative.

In October 2012, over 1,500 retailers nationwide participated in Non-GMO month. The first Non-GMO month, 10-10-10 (October 10, 2010) was inspired by Jimbo Someck, owner of Jimbo’s…Naturally! As an industry leader and on the forefront of eliminating products with GMO ingredients from his four locations in San Diego, California, he has provided leadership to other independent retailers and taken the lead on the avoidance of GMOs in his stores for the past four years. “For a number of years, many INFRA members have taken the lead on the GMO issue. Whole Foods’ announcement is tremendously exciting as their visibility and overall purchasing power will hopefully be what the industry needs to reach the critical mass necessary to have products that contain GMOs labeled as such! This is exactly what we need to move the labeling of GMOs initiative forward,” says Jimbo.