Until today, I thought Whole Foods had banned high fructose corn syrup. I was safe in the knowledge, that there was one store at least, that I could shop in without reading every damn label. But it’s not to be. In addition to banning vegetable oils from my diet – no rapeseed (canola), corn, or peanut for me, I’ve long banned high fructose corn syrup. Long before Oprah was on the bandwagon, I determined it had no place in my diet.
So Ralphs was out the door. And Trader Joe’s can only be shopped for a few items. But now Whole Foods as well?
This is from an article on the subject:
Whole Foods Markets, which is known for product standards and has banned trans fat-containing hydrogenated oils, has not banned HFCS, but products with it are “the exception rather than the norm as in conventional markets,” a spokeswoman said. The company’s brand name sodas are made with cane sugar rather than HFCS, she noted
I’m on a home made salad kick. After a couple of weeks of paying $9 for salads that were mostly lettuce ribs and underripe avocados, I got a colorful salad book from the library. The first recipe: real Caesar salad.
I have a pretty full pantry – and had all the ingredients on hand, except Worcestershire sauce – which I’d given up years ago because HFCS is the third ingredient. So off I went to Whole Foods for their version of the sauce, and what did I find? Lea and Perrins worcestershire with the dreaded ingredient. A perusal led me to a bunch of products in that end cap – mostly sauces and condiments with HFCS. Is there no safe haven?
I, too, am disappointed in Whole Foods and their stand on HFCS. They’re selling convential Heinz Ketchup which is sweetened with HCFS and I was surprised by this (that they’re selling it–not that Heinz uses HFCS).
Now just *corn syrup*, when used as a thickening agent for some sauces I’m okay with–its when it’s used for a sweetener that I have a problem with . . .
In an attempt to woo customers who are looking for ‘value,’ WF is lowering their standards in many areas. It’s a sad commentary on corporate values overtaking core values.
I too love going to Wholefoods because I don’t have to read labels. I was shocked to find Heinz ketchup which contains HFCS. I told customer service only to find out a week later that they were still selling it. About a week ago, I sent a letter to corporate but haven’t got a response. This really sucks!
I just found HFCS in the ingredient list of the tiny tart I bought at the bakery for $5.99. I do NOT pay $5.99 for products with ingredients like that. I’m really disappointed that I have to read all the labels at Whole Foods; one of the reasons I shop there is so I don’t have to spend so much time on label reading. So ridiculous.
Funny! I just blogged about Whole Foods carrying Lea & Perrins – I was shocked to find it at my local store a couple of weeks ago.
While I really don’t think HFCS is any worse than processed sugar (they both are baaaad) the products that contain HFCS are usually cheaply produced and bad for you.
I am disappointed that Whole Foods decided to lower themselves to these standards!
by the way, I just noticed Lean and Perins on a clearance table at my local Whole Foods over the weekend
I was shocked to find several ingredients with HFCS today at Whole Foods. The manager told us that it would be 2012 before they can eliminate all products containing it. I am really happy that I happened to flip over something from the bakery and it had it in, then noticed some salad dressing and different teas. I normally don’t check when I am in the “healthy” supermarkets. I am not paying their prices for junk ingredients.
I was really surprised to find that cookies from thier very own Whole Foods Bakery had HFCS. I only noticed because my son has an allergy to it and was having a reaction. I read the label and there it was! It’s a shame that I still have to spend hours reading those labels too.
This is all frustrating and maddening. I, too, use Worcestershire sauce for marinades and was just putting one together for lamb chops and notices the HFCS on the Lea & Perrins and even sugar in my dijon mustard (sigh).
I’m going to try Annie’s Natural’s Worcestershire Sauce. Wondering if anyone else has tried this product.
I haven’t tried the Amy’s. The 365 brand is HFCS free, just never in stock.
My wife works at Whole Foods and says that its sometimes hard for Whole Foods to catch HFCS offenders. The company gets their foot in the door with one recipe/formulation and either changes the recipe or introduces a new/different product with HFCS.
She says that her store no longer carries Lea & Perrins and that their current Worcesthire sauce does not have HFCS
Btw, I just checked our Heinz ketchup (from Whole Foods) and it contains sugar not HFCS.