Alert: GM Sweet Corn at Whole Foods
Whole Foods Market is selling GM sweet corn. Photo from Victoria BC, Aug 18, 2024.
Genetically modified (GM or genetically engineered) fresh sweet corn has been found in the produce sections of seven Whole Foods Markets in BC and Ontario: in Oakville, Mississauga, Yorkville, Yonge & Sheppard, and Ottawa, and in West Vancouver and Victoria stores. GM sweet corn could also be in the other stores in BC and Ontario. The GM sweet corn is identified as “bioengineered” on signs next to the corn bins.
Take Action
- If you shop at Whole Foods, please consider speaking to the Store Manager or Produce Manager and ask them to remove “bioengineered”/GM sweet corn from their produce section. Click here for some talking points to help your conversation.
- Email customer.questions@wholefoods.com and tell them to remove GM sweet corn and eliminate all GM fruits and vegetables from Whole Foods’ produce section. For background, read our letter to Whole Foods.
- If you shop at another grocery store, ask to speak to the Store Manager or Produce Manager to ask if the store is selling GM sweet corn or has a policy to sell only non-GM produce. If you shop at a major grocery chain click here to get contacts to email the head office.
- Help investigate. If you live near the Whole Foods Market locations of Kitsilano, Burnaby, North Vancouver, Robson, or Cambie in BC, or, Leaside or Markham in Ontario, please consider visiting the store to find out if they are selling the GM sweet corn. Please take a photograph and email Fionna at outreach@cban.ca to report your findings. Click here for the addresses of Whole Foods Market stores.
Avoiding GM Sweet Corn
The best way to avoid genetically modified (GM) sweet corn is to buy organic if you can. Certified organic produce is non-GM – organic farming prohibits the use of GMOs.
You can shop locally at stores that do not sell GM corn. Visit these stores or ask your local store for their policy:
- In Ottawa, check the retail stores on the Savour Ottawa Buy Local Guide
- In Toronto, you can shop at :
- The Big Carrot Community Market which has an all-organic produce section
- Nature’s Emporium which has an all-organic produce section
- Healthy Planet which has an all-organic produce section
- Ambrosia Natural Foods which has an all-organic produce section
- Fiesta Farms who has confirmed that they do not source any GMO produce
- Farm Boy who states they “do not intentionally source GMO products” but “currently do not have specific policies in place regarding GMOs.”
- In Vancouver, you can shop at:
- Famous Foods which has a non-GMO, organic & conventional produce section
- Thrifty Foods which has a non-GMO produce section
- On Vancouver Island and in Victoria, you can shop at:
- Lifestyle Markets which has an all-organic produce section
- Thrifty Foods which has a non-GMO produce section
- Send us the name of your local store:
Speak directly to farmers at markets, or produce managers at your local store to verify that the sweet corn for sale is non-GM. Click here for some information to help your conversation.
“Bioengineerd” sweet corn sold in Whole Foods Yorkville, Toronto, Aug 26, 2024.
For more information see our consumer guide on GM sweet corn.
CBAN’s testing of sweet corn samples from Canadian grocery stores between 2013 and 2016, as well as in 2020, found very little GM sweet corn, with some years showing none at all. By discussing this with your local retailer, you can help ensure this trend continues. You can help create non-GMO produce sections in stores across Canada!
For more information on GM corn and the health risks and environmental impacts see www.cban.ca/corn
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