The answer to that question is easy – A LOT.
A family member does this little game with me and it happens over and over. After trying a bite of something that looks homemade, I say, “Mmm where did you get this from?” and she says, “Don’t worry, it’s from Trader Joe’s, so it’s organic.” The fact that people assume all products from Trader Joe’s are organic or healthy or better than what you would find elsewhere is an alarming misconception.
For the last several months, I’ve been getting a lot of questions about Trader Joe’s. Many people are questioning the grocery store chain’s policies on genetically engineered ingredients (GMOs) and asking if I personally trust their statements about the use of GMOs in their store brand products – my short answer is no, I don’t.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I LOVE shopping at Trader Joe’s. It’s fun, the employees are super nice and helpful and it’s a pleasant experience. However, they won’t share any information with us and are completely cloaked in secrecy regarding their business practices, which makes my head want to explode.
Trader Joe’s Official GMO Statement:
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).
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?
I reached out to the Executive Director of the Non-GMO Project, Megan Westgate, to find why Trader Joe’s refuses to become Non-GMO certified. This is what she said:
“The Non-GMO Project has reached out to Trader Joe’s a number of times over the years, and we remain hopeful that at some point we will be able to forge a meaningful partnership with them. To date, it has been very difficult to ascertain the credibility of their non-GMO claims. We know that many consumers believe Trader Joe’s to be a GMO-free store, but without transparent standards or third-party verification this is impossible to confirm. Many other retailers–independent grocers, co-ops, and Whole Foods Market–are leading the way by requiring rigorous testing and labeling, and it would be great to see Trader Joe’s follow suit.”
Trader Joe’s says they review affidavits (the documents that prove an ingredient is not made or contaminated with GMOs) from their suppliers who make their store branded products, but there is no way to verify this. I asked Trader Joe’s if they would send me an affidavit showing proof of non-GMO corn or soy in at least one of their products that wasn’t labeled certified organic and they refused saying, “Unfortunately we don’t share those documents, they are confidential.” They wouldn’t even tell me what country some of the products were produced in either as they do not provide “country of origin” labeling.
I find the denial of my request maddening, considering I requested a similar affidavit from Honest Tea, who is owned by Coca Cola, and they completely complied and sent me the information with the confidential suppliers name blacked out. Heineken Beer also provided their affidavits when I asked them to prove to me they use no genetically modified ingredients in their beer.
Furthermore, when I reached out to the Director of the Cornucopia Institute (the top organic industry watchdog group), Mark Kastel, he stated:
“It is very hard to figure out sourcing with Trader Joe’s. They heavily depend on private label products which are based on secrecy. We have said that private-label organics is an “oxymoron.” Organic consumers want to know “the story behind their food.” They want to know where it was produced, how it was produced, how the animals and workers involved have been treated, etc. None of that is possible with Trader Joe’s. Unlike the majority of all responsible brand marketers in organics they have refused to participate in our research studies and are thus rated very poorly on our scorecards that critique dairy foods, eggs and soy foods (etc.)”
We have the right to know where our food comes from and what’s in it and Trader Joe’s is refusing to give us this information.
They don’t want us to know which suppliers they are using because it would upset consumers and their suppliers if we knew the truth. For example, Stoneyfield supplies yogurt for Trader Joe’s and Stacey’s (owned by Pepsi) supplies their pita chips. Because Trader Joe’s maintains a limited supply of products, they can buy many of the same items in bulk from different suppliers keeping costs low, which is fabulous, but this comes at a cost of not actually knowing who is manufacturing our food. They keep it secret because the companies they work with, like Stacey’s, don’t want you to know that you can buy their pita chips two dollars less at Trader Joe’s under a private label. This is how Trader Joe’s has become so successful, growing at a faster pace than Whole Foods.
There is another disappointing side effect of not knowing where your food comes from because if you are like me and boycott certain companies because of their business practices, it is extremely hard to vote with your dollars and know which products to buy and support. For this reason, if you want to REALLY vote with your dollars, you seriously need to consider what you are buying at Trader Joe’s.
I have a hard time trusting a company that is not willing to show their affadavits to a customer or prove that their products are in fact GMO free. Trader’s Joe’s won’t spend any of their 8 billion dollars in sales to test and prove their products safe. And they won’t tell us what companies they work with to develop their products or what countries their ingredients come from. Have you noticed that every single Trader Joe’s branded product has “DIST & SOLD EXCLUSIVELY BY: TRADER JOE’S MONROVIA, CA 91016” written on the back? I hope we are smart enough to know the entire line of Trader Joe’s products aren’t all really from California.
Since Trader Joe’s does provide a price point that is unrivaled, I can see the financial benefit to shopping there, but not much else. Their fruits and vegetables are usually flown in from half way across the world, packaged in lots of plastic, providing little to no local produce (at least in my store here in Charlotte, NC). This means you could be eating nutritionally degraded produce. I have been a victim to this more than once when I bought produce that I didn’t know was less than stellar and it went bad super fast in my fridge compared to the local produce I get from my farmer or buy from other grocery stores.
Considering Trader Joe’s total lack of transparency, there’s only a limited list of products I would personally trust from Trader Joe’s, here’s what I would buy and not buy:
WHAT TO BUY AT TRADER JOE’S
- Certified organic fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds
- Certified organic branded Trader Joe’s products (USDA certified), for example their organic popcorn made with olive oil is a good choice
- Certified organic milk products
- Certified organic coffee and teas (like Yogi tea)
- Certified organic frozen goods like frozen berries
- Some conventional items on occasion (like kimchi) that do not have high-risk GMO crop ingredients like corn, soy, cottonseed, papaya, sugar, canola, zucchini/squash (here’s a full list of potential GMO ingredients)
- Paper products – they use environmentally friendly practices and recycled paper
WHAT NOT TO BUY AT TRADER JOE’S
- Charles Shaw Wine, otherwise known as “2 buck chuck” – It’s so poor in quality, some experts call this stuff “grape-flavored soda” and compare it to what “Ronald McDonald is to the cheeseburger.” This wine is not made in a winery rather, “this wine is made in a factory, with a lot of synthetic and concentrated products, like grape musk, added to manipulate the flavors from bad grapes.” (Stick to organic wine with no detected or added sulfites)
- Non-Trader Joe’s brands that likely contain GMO ingredients like Simply Lite, Reddi Egg, Dare, Orangina, The Laughing Cow, Morningstar, Toffutti, Think Thin Bars, Toblerone, Kashi, Barbara’s Bakery, Annie Chun’s and Power Crunch
- Trader Joe’s branded products or other processed products that contain high-risk GMO crop ingredients like corn, soy, cottonseed, papaya, sugar, canola, zucchini/squash (A majority of their products contain one or more of these ingredients, until they can be fully transparent, I would not trust them.)
- Pre-packaged meals like sandwiches, salads, and sushi – many of these items contain ingredients you definitely don’t want to be eating, like cellulose (wood pulp), or imitation crab meat. Additionally, there’s way too much sodium added to these meals and they can give you a serious case of water-weight bloat and bubble gut.
- Trader Joe’s branded dairy, yogurt, or eggs, because they are likely produced from animals fed GMO corn and soy and can contain antibiotics
- Non Trader Joe’s branded dairy, yogurt, or eggs because they could contain (cancer causing) rBST growth hormone, GMOs and antibiotics
- Non-organic meat or dairy, Trader Joe’s still allows antibiotics and other harmful chemicals – like autolyzed yeast extract (a hidden form of MSG) in their meat.
The most important thing to remember when shopping at Trader Joe’s or anywhere else for that matter, is to read the ingredient lists. Trader Joe’s still allows harmful petroleum- based artificial coloring, artificial flavors, carrageenan, and other questionable ingredients to creep into their stores via other brands and this is something to definitely watch out for.
If you know someone who shops at Trader Joe’s, please share this post with them. Making smart decisions together is the only way we are going to change the secretive practices of the food industry.
Keep Your Chin Up!
Food Babe
P.S. Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter to get more info about what’s really in our food, personal updates from me and chances to win cool organic stuff.
I’ve just gone over to organic eating, and was thrilled to shop at TJs. I knew their label was “guaranteed” non-GMO. Out of curiosity I e-mailed their main office, and asked if the TJ label was also herbicide and pesticide free. The answer was ” Trader Joe’s products that are conventionally produced are not free of herbicides, pesticides, etc. unless specifically labeled as such. We can only guarantee these are not used for organic certified items.” Needless to say, while I still shop at TJs, I buy only items labeled organic.
that goes for all conventional produce, that’s why organic is better, and local organic the best!
And be careful of what they tag as organic on their shelves! I’ve noticed them “tag” products with their green organic labels (including the word “organic”) when the product was NOT certified organic, but possibly only “made with organic ingredients” (and a bunch of non-organic ones too…).
This post is sad. But it’s a good reminder that there are some opportunities at Trader Joe’s, but you gotta watch what you buy, just like always.
what is the concern with TJ coconut cream – we go through a lot of that? Thanks so much for doing this research!!
@Sarah I don’t want to disappoint you, but did you know that many stores like Whole Foods, Chipotle just to name 2 for many years were lying about their foods not containing gmo’s for many years and were hiding behind a vale for many years before they decided to come clean.What makes you think Trader Joes isn’t also lying and hiding behind a vale
Robert, TJ’s stock-in-trade is their customer trust and loyalty. That and their great prices and quality, of course. But without the trust, the pricing loses an immense amount of value. They also have huge piles of cash and profits to use, if they choose, in whatever ways they think will grow and improve their business.
It doesn’t matter if you think TJ’s is run by a heartless company that’s just in it for the maximum cash or you think it’s a family guy in Germany who has a strong personal moral and ethical code. Either way, logic demands that every single letter of that GMO-free policy is going to be strictly adhered to.
The only possible scenario in which you would find that policy not being followed is if the ownership and management at TJ’s were greedy, very short-sighted, and monumentally stupid businessmen. I’d love to see you try to make that case with any available information. 🙂
Bryn, glad to see Trader Joe’s has employees like you monitoring sites like this – perhaps that will persuade them to provide customers with the information that they want.
I can easily make the case the Trader Joe’s is very likely not “strictly adhering” to a widely agreed upon non-GMO standard: THE FACT THAT THEY REFUSE TO PROVIDE DETAILS STATING THEIR STANDARDS, SOURCES OR CRITERIA. End of story. Any rational non-employee can realize if there is nothing to hide, then don’t hide it.
After Chipotle started labeling their GMO foods online I asked Trader Joe’s if, since someone had now set up a standard, if they would do the same. They replied that they did not want to get involved with the “politics” of the issue. So much for caring about customers or a customers desire/right to know what is in these products.
Since you seem to be suffering from the same inability of FB to read the information provided by the subject of your deductions, I’ll repost it here for you and make it easy.
I do not now, nor have I ever worked for TJ’s. In fact I have never had a friend who worked there, although I did know someone about 23 years ago who went to grade school with the children of the family who started it. She said they were very nice.
I’ve already repeatedly posted the reason(s) TJ’s would have to be incredibly stupid to be transparent about their sources and suppliers. I’ll let you find that one for yourself.
When you personally have a business with a multi-billion dollar primary asset and you decide to turn it over to someone who just wants it, you get back to me.
I am laughing at the notion that is prevalent on this blog that Trader Joes has some obligation/duty to disclose who their private label packers are. Before the childish chorus of “you must work for TJs” starts up – I no affiliation with TJs or any company in the food industry whatsoever.
Is it just me or do all your replies sound like you are an employee of Trader Joe’s or a paid blogger, paid to do damage control? You need to look at the facts, they can say that there is no GMO in there until the sky turns purple and the cows come home. Until they participate in a known and accepted certifications program, one has to assume they are lying …period. Especially since inquiries to them are met with what seems to be excuses. I am a member of the local anti GMO movement, and I can tell you one thing, after I post this to the website, Trader Joe’s (who just opened a store here in town will lose at a minimum 180 families that shopped there. Money talks, and we are talking with our feet..we have strict rules and will not buy anything if we are not sure about the merchant..we will NOT be lied too, and until they come clean…we will assume they lie period. We will sent them letters and try to get answers, we will give them a chance…but if we get the same answers we will not come back..and will write an article in the local organic newsletter that is subscribed to by more than 7000 individuals.Trader Joe’s only exists because of us, the shoppers…come clean and you will prosper, keep up the secrecy and evasions and in the end you will fail.
John I’d really like to find a non gmo group in my area how do you suggest I go about finding one? Thanks!
Look at the BB at your local natural foods store or talk to people at your local farmers market. If there is a local group people will know, if not go start one. There are always interested people and many just need someone to rally around at the local level.. organize, because no corporation cares about a few single people who leave, but if hundreds of families locally decide not to shop at a store… well that could be the make or brake point.. if the profits go down because they behave unethically or decide to not provide people with adequate information, then they either have to change or go belly up.
The image you have of Trader Joe’s buying from companies and putting their own packaging on it is a little misleading. My husband works at Trader Joe’s and he is also frustrated and has been trying to get info about whether their label is really gmo free and he has not been able to get any real information either. But he did think that particular image was incorrect, because they do not just, for example, buy from say Cheerios and put their packaging on it. Because Trader Joe’s doesn’t want any artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives in their products so they tell the company you have to take out such and and such ingredients and put in such and such natural ones instead, so it is not exactly the same product. But they really need to do something about this non gmo claim, because its just as frustrating to those who work there and get questioned by customers and don’t have an answer to give
Do you think even the managers who work at each trader joes store aren’t even being informed on how to answer these questions related to GMO, origins, and how their products are being grown/raised.
I know they’re not, because my husband has tried to get answers and all he gets from his managers is what they’ve been told (that anything with their label is non gmo), but my husband doesn’t believe it to be true, but can’t seem to get any real answers from anyone higher up. All of that info is being hidden from employees as well and it is frustrating because they can’t properly answer people’s questions
So again it comes to not being TRANSPARENT on the products they sell.
All we know is that they CLAIM the TJ branded products are GMO free but when a single customer ask them about proving it then its another story.
So I wonder if ALOT of customers send emails to TJ and request for the affidavits will make them be more transparent and make them post it on their website. Because for know it seems that they are all talk and no show.
Just right now i’ve emailed them politely to show me proof. Hopefully i get a reply on it.
I wouldn’t get upset at the employees who you actually see working in the store. I think most of them believe what they’ve been told and so when they tell customers their stuff is non gmo, they’re not lying, its what they’ve been told and they believe it. There are some employees, like my husband though, that don’t believe it and so he struggles with answers people’s questions because this is what he’s been told to be true, but questions whether it is actually true. But when he tries to ask his managers about it, they just say that’s what they’ve been told and they are not doing anything to question it. Its a frustrating pyramid of secrecy.
You will not get the proof and transparency you are asking for. None of you will. Ever. TJ’s entire business model is largely founded on making better deals on better products than anyone else. This means their suppliers are their biggest trade secret and most valuable asset.
If any of the “we have a right to know” comments on this blog ever made it to the owner in Germany I can just see him shaking his head in disbelief at how incredibly stupid Americans are about business. And then going back to counting his billions of dollars that he earned ethically. Well, probably not all of them, there are almost no rich people in the world that were able to remain ethical to get to that point, but he seems to be doing a good job now.
Trader Joe’s doesn’t have to answer to anyone in the sense that they are not a publicly owned business and they are based in Germany. They wanted to present a store front that looked like a locally owned market with competitive prices and they have succeeded. As we’ve found out, other respected names in the health food industry have misled us about their claim to healthy food and anyone can make a label looking like one thing and it being another. Remember the “all natural” labels? We all make our own informed decisions and do the best we can. Coming from someone who has tried to reduce the amount of non organic and non GMO foods in her diet, this is no small task and I don’t have to worry about feeding kids. I still think Trader Joe’s has a great selection at a great price, maybe people just need to minimize processed foods and learn to cook from scratch so you (kind of) know what’s in your food.
LOL… Whole Foods CEO was finally caught under cover ON VIDEO admitting that they sell GMOs in their store…….. this after YEARS of telling us customers they do not allow any GMOS in their any of their store products. TRICKY wording…. Truth turned out to be: they don’t allow GMOs in their 365 Whole Foods brand only. The Company brainwashed and had the employees repeat a false story. (I asked for 10 yrs myself). Mike Adams of Natural News reported on this story too, just recently in 2012. Google the video & article. IF it happened to WF, I’m sure Trader Joe’s sells GMOs too. If you know how to read Labels, you’ll realize GMOs ARE IN YOUR PRODUCTS if they are NOT organic.
Crosswind, it’s estimated that 30% of US certified organic foods are GMO contaminated. The US regulations for organic labeling allow a producer to have consistent and continuing GMO contaminated production and label it organic.
When you think about it logically, the fact that a large quantity of the ingredients and production of TJ’s house brands are sourced in Canada, Europe and other countries where there is a tiny fraction of GMO agriculture compared to the US, it’s reasonable to expect that TJ’s house brands are possibly more free from GMOs than USA organically certified produce and products.
This whole article is so fraught with innuendo and assumptions proposed as an indication of wrong-doing that it’s not even worth reading. I’d almost say the person writing it works for a competitor.
Not really innuendo at all. She is saying she wants to know where the food is sourced from. The company has refused multiple times to supply that information. She is saying to be wary of foods that are usually GMO unless organic, with the organic stamp that is verified from a third party. Sadly in this world we live in today we have to assume the worst when it concerns what a for profit corporation is selling. That is called being a smart consumer. I believe we have all heard many many times a company saying something is good for us when in fact the opposite is true.
Trader Joe’s never claimed to be all organic, so individuals who assume that are misinformed. Second, no one can ever claim to be 100% GMO free. Trader Joe’s guarantees that the seed their farmers use start from GMO free seeds. Once nature takes its course, bees pollinate ect., there are no more guarantees. So if there is a field of gmo crops, it could potentially cross pollinate with the Trader Joe’s gmo-free seed, now causing that crop to have a diluted gmo product. So nothing is safe, not even your precious organic foods.
For some reason the picture of Gollum saying “my precious” sprang to mind with the line “your precious organic foods.”
This article does not deserve any further response other than to state that by virtue of the designation “ORGANIC” that means it is NON GMO. They do not claim all their food is non GMO or organic. She is tilting at windmills. Their explanation is more than adequate and there is no reason why they should waste their time with an individual who wants special considerations, someone who sees treachery under every rock. If her name was Rodale then I might give some credibility to her gripe, but Trader Joe’s did answer her, they just aren’t going to waste any time cow-towing to an individual who didn’t accept their reply when they have already met the legal requirements for a food supplier. As I said, she has a burr under her saddle. READ THEIR LABELS. ALL THE INFORMATION IS THERE. If she doesn’t like it then she should grow her own food and stop sowing discord. And I will be removing my name from your list of followers, as well.
Hello! Actually they do claim that anything that is a Trader Joe’s brand is non GMO – that is the issue. I’ve always known that but always wondered if if really is true. I love shopping at Trader Joe’s and so does Food Babe. We just want consumers to be aware and informed, that is all.
Troll much? Your reply does not deserve any other response other than to say you’re obviously part of the problem, and not the solution. The reason there is so much crap in our food supply, is because there are too many complacent sheep out there ready to gobble up any crap these corporations want to serve to us in the name of profit, and not enough asking questions, and demanding answers. I bet you have stock in Monsanto, don’t you?
Then pay attention. 1. They DO say from where the products are sourced. 2. Truth: ALL organics are NON-GMO, ZERO GMOs are organic. 3. ALL third party testings are done by an unidentified certified agency to insure that they remain unbiased and not intimidated or influenced by any company, therefore that information is not available to the general public. Anyone who wants to change that should start legal proceedings. FACT: In reality, unless one is going to grow their own food — not a bad idea when possible — one has to purchase from a position of trust to a certain extent. My daughter has worked for Trader Joe’s for 9 years and on more than one occasion they have pulled merchandise and severed dealings with a company that they found to have INTENTIONALLY misrepresented a product AND those from companies that have been found to be unethical in their production. My complaint with this article — based in part on having spent 25-years as a journalist and a familiarity with certain techniques — is that it should have included several companies, not singled out just one. Simply put, each person has to ask, has a company been reputable or have they been caught INTENTIONALLY lying about their product like some have? In addition to product information, I also work from the standpoint of whether or not a company has proved to be ethical in their dealing with their employees and their customers. Do your own research. You are on the Internet if you are reading this, so learn how to use it. Don’t rely on anyone else to proof your facts, and don’t expect an employee of any market to know all their is about the source of their foods. More importantly, if you really want to accomplish something … join or financially support an action group or initiative that gets GMOs and other contaminants off of this planet. The process of cleaning up our only home begins at water/ground/individual responsibility level. Others, either intentionally or accidentally, have been contaminating it for more than 100 years while the consumer has either been asleep or not looking past the convenience of what’s marketed to them, so it won’t be done overnight. In essence, we got lulled into laziness. I’d suggest getting a copy of “Organic Manifesto” by Maria Rodale, it’s easy to read and even interesting. And if you are concerned about feeding your family safe foods and keeping contaminants out of your cleaning supplies, a starting point would be to subscribe to http://rodalenews.com/
Plus, I personally take a homemade cleanse “brew” to remove toxins that can’t be avoided .. and believe me .. there are many that can’t be avoided.
A word on GMOs: The government is dragging its feet on the definition so you need to ask, has the DNA been altered? For now, that will stand as defining a GMO. What that means is a gene from some other life form has been injected into the genetic structure of the plant which can introduce DNA altering genes into the organism that eats that plant. Oh, just read “Organic Manifesto.” It pulls all the info together in one spot. ALSO, cross pollination or hybridization is NOT the same as GMO.
By all means, keep reading foodbabe, but people shouldn’t let that be their only source. Every blogger/columnist — myself included — works from a personal point of view.
If you followed Food Babe you would understand she is not working for any companies. And the reason there are not enough facts for you, is because the company will not provide facts, so you can only guess about things.
Have you picked up the boxes at Trader Joe’s yourself and read the Ingredients? I have for years looking for cleaner products for me and my family. Once you learn how to read labels, you’ll understand that it’s HIGHLY likely to get GMOs from products that are NOT ORGANIC. Google the alternative and hidden words used to hide ingredients derived FROM Non-organic Corn, which usually means GMO CORN…. aka … corn syrup, corn starch, corn oil, Inulin, Xanthum Gum, maltodextrin, fructose… the list goes on…..in your supplements too
At the same time, why should I trust someone who calls herself “The Foodbabe”? What are her qualifications? What is her area of expertise other than “investigative blogger”? Her “professional bio” is simply a list of television shows on which she’s appeared… So, who is she? And, most importantly, who is paying her?
I believe the intent of the article was to focus on the difficulty getting answers from Trader Joe’s. I too am a “fan” of “Traders” but when we allow companies to dismiss our questions about products they sell, we fail to move the ball forward so to speak. I see comments here basically stating that “they provide a good service” or “it is our responsibility to read labels” or “if you don’t like it grow your own food”. The focus is on transparency and holding even our “friends” “Traders” in this case to that standard of full transparency and sincere desire to empower their shoppers with information. I hope some of the comments don’t discourage the writer to continue on the path of asking (not even demanding or slamming a company) but just asking that they disclose certain valuable information to those consumers who care.
Living in Olympia WA, we have the Olympia Food Coop. This is a high quality store that is nonprofit. While it started as a group of people banding together to buy fresh, organic foods (mainly fruits & vegetables); it has grown into a 2 store operation that is awesome! Because it is a nonprofit and the board and management are all from the same, like-minded, group of people – (that want to buy healthy, non-GMO, organic foods) so ALL food and brands there are the best. They are not only non-GMO and organic, but also quality, locally sourced when possible and all processed foods are high quality. And they carry a complete line of foods and food products. I simply do all my shopping there and never need to go anywhere else.
I can’t but sing praises for the Olympia Food Coop (www.olympiafood.coop) and the quality service stores they run. I grew up calling these people “greeners” and now I’m a greener :-))
It is so nice to shop and know all foods and products are trustworthy. DON’T NEED TRADER JOES, WHOLE FOODS OR ANY OF THE NATIONAL SUPERMARKET CHAINS.
If everyone had a nonprofit, trustworthy operation like ours, the world would be a better, healthier place!
Happy in Olympia 🙂
Food Babe – THANK YOU for shedding the light on TJ’s – it drives me crazy when people think of it as a natural foods store. BUT – if you don’t trust TJ’s why do you shop there?
You say: ” if you want to REALLY vote with your dollars, you seriously need to consider what you are buying at Trader Joe’s. I have a hard time trusting a company that is not willing to show their affadavits to a customer or prove that their products are in fact GMO free.” Choose a store that has more commitment to transparency instead.
This is just a random thought thrown out there, nothing intended to contradict anyone’s comments … I even agree in part with foodbabe, but mostly not her approach. Why do people assume that just because they “think or believe” something to be one way that when they find out otherwise it is suddenly the fault of the company?
Well, I have worked for a manufacturer that made product for TJ and I can tell you part of the problem may be with who owns the formula. The formula and subsequent docs, may not be held by TJ so they can’t disclose some information. Just my experience. But, when you go 3rd party, there are more controls that need to be enforced. Like what does the line guy do when he runs out of non-gmo soy protein for the protein bars and decides to throw in something else because he’s being pressured to run his line and the guy pulling ingredients on the other end decided the gmo soy protein was the same.uhoh
Hi Food Babe,
Thanks for investigateing Trader Joe’s I knew the first time I entered there store I didn’t like what I was seeing I didn’t know any of there brands and didn’t trust them I looked around and then left without buying anything and will not go back there.
what is wrong with carrageenan? I see lots of things about this isnt natural or organic because it has carrageenan. Carrageenan is a form of seaweed. As far as I am aware you cannot modify seaweed.
https://foodbabe.com/2012/05/22/watch-out-for-this-carcinogen-in-your-organic-food/
Start reading your pet food labels, too.
You should look into Tom’s of Maine: their toothpastes contain carageenan.
Hi Kerry – Food Babe does not worry much about carrageenan in toothpaste because it is not ingested (except for kids)
Great job!! These are the main reasons that I only purchase a few select items from them, and only if I cannot find it some place else. Really hate this kind of deceptive practices. Keep up the good work!!
I think TJ’s needs to be called on the carpet for misleading pictures of the product on the front of the package. They show normal portions, but when you open the package you almost need a magnifying glass to see the main ingredient (for example, Chicken Tikka Masala).
Thanks for bringing this to our attention. I have been getting more and more suspicious of Trader Joe’s because they would not provide a written statement that specific products were GMO free. However, after seeing David vs. Monsanto, I realize this question is moot, because ALL crops that were planted as GMO have contaminated organic crops through wind and bee transport of pollen. Remember, corn and canola have been genetically modified since the 90’s,leaving an awful lot of time to contaminate virtually every organic crop. Therefore, my family has decided to forgo all corn, canola, soy, papaya,squash and now, possibly wheat. Sad situation.
Elizabeth, TJ’s does provide a written statement identifying which GMO products are GMO free (to at least the same standard as organically certified, if not a higher standard, according to their stated procedures).
http://www.traderjoes.com/about/customer-updates-responses.asp?i=4
On a related note, your list of foods not to buy from them is based on flawed logic.
1) If you want to know why you should believe their published statement is true, see some of my other comments. Bottom line: in order not to believe their GMO statement is strictly adhered to you would have to believe TJ’s is ethically bankrupt, very greedy, very very shortsighted, and very very very stupid as a company.
2) As other’s on here have mentioned, much of TJ’s ingredients and foods are sourced in Canada, Europe, or other overseas locations. Crops grown in those countries are far less likely to be GMO contaminated since they have a MUCH smaller percentage of GMO crops overall.
oops *TJ’s does provide a written statement identifying which of their products are GMO free
Bryn-Since Trader Joe’s has so many products that contain modified corn starch and hydrogenated oils, I think I have good reason to distrust them. I have no idea whether or not they are ethically bankrupt, but as to them being greedy, I think that is a given. As evidence of their greed, simply look at the new beer aisle, with dozens of expensive, designer beers. I hardly think they are stupid. In fact, they count on the indifference and stupidity of their customers who are too busy or too comatose to read labels.
Eizabeth, you give evidence that TJs is greedy because the sell craft beer? Wow. Just wow.
Have you never heard of customer demand? TJ’s has always offered some European beers (mainly German and Dutch) at very reasonable prices. These days, craft beer is by far the best tasting American beer and American beer drinkers have had their taste buds awakened over the past 15-20 years as more and more micro breweries have popped up. We no longer only have the choice of terrible mass produced beer (Coors, Bud, Miller) but can now select from hundreds of excellent locally produced beers. This beer tends to be more expensive because it comes from smaller breweries. It is not some “designer” beer with some huge mark-up, it is produced by local small breweries and TJs is actually helping out small businesses by selling their craft beer.
Thank you food babe for your investigation on ingredients of the stores we shop in for our food, I am always looking for ways to be informed and appreciate your hard work.
Look, any one who thinks TJs is all organic pretty much doesn’t really care about the subject. Also to assume so in the article, just makes you another “greater than thou elite” type of person. “Oh the poor little people just don’t know!” If you don’t like their practices or products, JUST DON’T SHOP THERE. It’s that simple.
Further more, back when all foods were completely organic, folks lived to the ripe old age of 45. Seems like organic isn’t the reason we live to the ripe old age of 75 now. Hmmmmmm………
Check out SoLongwrinkles(point)nerium(period)colm This can give you younger looking skin.
Both TJ’s brand and nonTJ’s brand Eggs are on your Do Not Buy list.
Are you also including the Organic free-range ones?
I thought to be labeled Organic they couldn’t be fed Any GMO grain, given antibiotics, growth hormones or washed in ammonia.
I realize they are corporate factory farmed, however by getting the Organic free-range, the most expensive they carry, I figured were safe… even though the shells are thin.
Our farmer’s market, small local farmers’ eggs @ $6 or $7 a dozen, are grain finished (some soy-free) and not always Organic fed (was told by one that organic feed is too expensive) or really that local. The one that was soy-free the $6.00 eggs were on the small side, and 1 chicken w/feet & head was $30.00!
The Glaum’s brand eggs, USDA certified Organic, Free Range, hand gathered, Organic fed diet, certified humane ones from my local CSA in Salinas… I read online, aren’t that different from factory farms?! and they also raise & have non-organic hens/eggs. The carton label makes them sound wonderful! and they’re cheaper & larger than farmer’s market.
I spend a lot of time & money to get the best food, and figured TJ’s Organic eggs are fine as the staple?
@Rubytuesday free range typically means there’s an opening or door to the outside of the building they’re housed in. It doesn’t usually mean they’re outside just that they have the option. The way they’re raised they don’t understand they can go outside or are taken outside. It’s a very misleading term meant to conjure up friendlier thoughts and images of happy birds.
Thanks for awesome detective work! we deserve to know what’s in our food and companies should be open about it so we can make informed choices. Of course going back to the basics and eating real whole food will solve much of this ie your list of what you can buy! sharing with my tribe….
It seems like your whole approach to getting people to read your blog and do what you want them to is through fear. You can still get the same result without trying to scare people away from things like PB2 and Trader Joe’s. Information can be presented in a number of ways, and though you’re trying to be helpful, it just seems like you’re trying to manipulate people through fear, which probably isn’t a good idea.
Maybe Bryn works or has stock in TJ’s. 🙂
Seems that way, doesn’t it?
I shop at Trader Joes, but carefully, just as I do at Whole Foods or my local farm stand. I always read labels due to a couple of health issues specific to me. That’s why I know several items I purchase are labeled with country of origin. For that reason, I question much of the other information in your report. Here’s how I feel: there is no perfect person or independent small business or corporation. It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there and Trader Joes has every right to keep their trade secrets secret. You, of course, are free to take your business elsewhere.
I read labels, buy organic as much as possible, stay away from sugar etc. I am far better
off than I was 10 years ago. Pick your poison, it can drive a person nuts if you nit pick at
every single thing you eat and a person cannot even enjoy going out to eat anymore without
worry. Dayia cheese is processed but I feel I am better off getting my gluten-free, veggie,
daiya pizza than any other pizza. I just have to do my best at home & eating out or I go
crazy!
Anything with the Trader joe’s name on it does not contain GMO’s or preservatives. I find it odd that all your pictured items are ones that are not store brand. I feel like you are or work for a competitor.
As an employee of one of the ‘secret’ suppliers of TJ products, I can tell you with certainty that they do not require any kind of documentation from us that we are GMO-free.
If we can not trust them re: Non-GM….why should we trust them on the “organic” there are almost NO certs in lace nationwide to ensure “organic” …Whole Foods has their own cert program…
That picture of the Darrell Lea liquorice is baffling me a bit. I have a bag of that sitting on my kitchen counter, and it is a completely different ingredient list. In fact, I buy it for my son because he is allergic to artificial colors, and it has none. However, in that picture, it lists Red 40….
All I have to say it so what, there is NO scientific evidence that’s GMO’s have any adverse health effects. Take corn, the corn we eat now is not the “natural” corn even if it is “non-GMO” corn, it has still been modified. Bananas the ones one can but for the store have been modified, one could not eat a “natural” nonmodified banana. All the fear over GMOs is uncalled for.
So as long as you buy anything Organic from Trader Joe’s (including their house brand) it is GMO free? Or mostly?
While I appreciate your looking closely into Trader Joe’s products, it’s misleading lumping all GMO products into one category. You say to avoid things with corn, soy …. and papaya. But while GM soy was developed to increase resistance to an herbicide (round-up), GM papayas were developed to resist a virus. Very different circumstance, and the health effects of each of these plants should be taken on a case-by-case basis.
A perception of everything being organic is not TJ’s fault. They don’t advertise that.
The article is written with good research, but presented with a sensationalist spin. The concern over GMO is relatively recent, and I fully understand TJ’s position that until a definition of what GMO really is, it can’t make a claim they don’t have GMOs. The examples the author uses is VERY poor, talking with manufacturers, like a beer company, that only makes one type of product where it can indeed have oversight of its supply chain. TJ? There are literally hundreds of different types of branded foods with hundreds of ingredients. It’s unreasonable to hold TJ to a standard that is ambiguous, and most of all, not yet a standard.
I’m sure the Non-GMO Project would be happy to assist Trader Joe’s in navigating the ambiguity — they are specialists at doing just that.
To be fair, a number of Kashi varieties have been verified by the Non-GMO Project and/or have been certified USDA Organic. Some of their varieties have not, of course, but I don’t think we should paint Kashi with a broad brush.
Never have shopped there and don’t plan on it anytime soon. My Wife has brought home avocados from TJ’s several times and each time they ended up being nasty and gray on the inside, worse than Wegmans. Lorri’s Natural Foods, I have never had that problem. As for the GMO thing, HA I don’t trust anyone.
I went to the TJ’s website and sent them a “general feedback” message asking them to consider GMO certification and labeling referencing this blog post.
It’d be cool if we all did, yes?
YES!
I got an email back. They said they do have random 3rd party lab tests done on their food to ensure that is is free of GMO. Do we not trust this?
Like the argument, just want to point out the you mentioned cellulose is bad for you aka “wood pulp” which is entirely not true, cellulose is found in the structure of most all green plant cells and is actually what we commonly refer to as fiber. Eating the right amount of cellulose is actually beneficial to our digestion.
http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/547cellulose.html
This article and it’s views are both ignorant and elitist. Reading it made me sick.
First of all, while many believe that GMOs are “bad,” we must realize that whether by natural selection or early human selection, almost all of what we eat has been genetically modified. Corn, for example, was specifically bred by early humans to produce the largest seed. Early corn looked like wheat we know today. Without “modifying” the “genetics” of the plant, corn wouldn’t feed the span of people it does today–it perhaps may not have become edible at all.
Furthermore, the company has the right to withhold any information the government does not require of it. It is a PRIVATE company; the public has no stake in this claim.
Finally, certain “warnings” on this blog are excessive and once again elitist. “Imitation crab” is not by definition unhealthy or “genetically modified.” It’s just fish! Telling people that products like imitation crab and corn/canola oil are dangerous and that they should only be purchasing organic foods leaves out a huge portion of the population who cannot afford such expenses.
And it is possible to stay healthy on a budget; everything listed on this blog is exaggerative and excessive.
Also beware of their hot fudge sauce – it contains Carrageenan.
Wow, there’s quite a big difference of opinions here. I’m not going to claim who is or isn’t right, but here’s my two cents. First off, thank you for writing this article. It’s always awesome to see people digging into companies for answers since a lot of us don’t have the time or know how to do it. That being said, I can see why Trader Joe’s doesn’t want to disclose this information. Strictly talking about business, it makes total sense that their suppliers don’t want people to know if they can buy their product at a different store for cheaper or that they have their product in TJ’s with a different name and label on it. It’s a business, and they want to make money. That’s the basic idea of a business. If I find out I can get Product A at TJ’s for $2 less than I can get it at Ralph’s or vice versa, but it’s just called something different and has a “private label” on it, then you bet I’m going to buy it where it’s cheaper. It doesn’t make any sense (again, just talking about money wise) why the vendors at TJ’s would want people to know where/who the products are coming from. TJ’s wants people to continue to buy the products at their store and not go elsewhere. BUT, as far as I’m concerned, I think it’s deceptive, manipulative, and unfair not to at least tell us who’s making the food we’re eating. I shop at TJ’s all the time. I’m drinking their organic coffee as I write this, and I feel totally comfortable buying the products at their store that are labeled USDA organic. For these other products with no labeling, with no information on what’s really in it, that’s disheartening that they wouldn’t be more forthcoming about it. People love to shop at stores that are on the side of their customers. Whole Foods seems to be one of those places that’s looking out for their consumers. I work at Costco, and everyone knows that they have strict contacts with vendors to ensure the best quality for the people that shop there. Do they drop the ball sometimes? Oh yeah, plenty of times. But they also correct it and strive to make it better in the future. I wish TJ’s would start doing the same thing. And correct me if I’m wrong, which I might be, but I thought it was the law to have to have the country of origin on food products? Or at least meats and fish. We do it at Costco (I work in the meat department), and they’re always checking that the correct country of origin is on our labels, and if it isn’t, we could get in big trouble. I thought it was the same at all grocery stores? And for the people out there that say they don’t trust the USDA or FDA or any other government group used to regulate food, then what do you eat? Unless you’re growing all your own food, raising your own livestock, then most of the products you’re consuming are regulated in some way by the government. I had a woman at work tell me she doesn’t believe when the label says organic or wild caught fish because “they just put that on there to sell it at a higher price, but it’s actually raised with all the other non-organic or farmed fish.” Really people?!? Then you must never eat if you don’t believe anything on labels. Bottom line, I’ve always been under the impression that if you don’t like a store, DON’T SHOP THERE! If you have a problem with TJ’s, go to Whole Foods. If you don’t like Whole Foods, go to your local farmer’s market. Yes, I think TJ’s needs to get their act together and let us know what we’re eating, but if they never do, then the easiest way to show them we don’t agree with their business practices is to stop shopping there, period.
I think your article is completely inflammatory and really a complete non-issue. A non-GMO label means nothing and people should have that expectation… it’s basically a cage free label. Your article also starts out with a completely ignorant statement from from clueless person which you you never wrap up sounds like you really need to educate your friends first on the difference between organic and non-organic food. There is no store chain that’s completely organic…. period. If you want a certified non- GMO food you have to go organic… period. Why does anyone think that’s even an option. Why is does your “Non-GMO Project” has more credibility than Trader Joe’s? why does anyone? if there is no certification anyway can send anyone anything it really isn’t tested or confirmed. Organic is what’s GMO free… that’ it… wake up. It’s like cage free… or grass fed… it means nothing…. or even totally natural. Unless it’s certified it means nothing, it’s words that have no backing period.
Trader Joe’s voted against Prop 37, which would have made it mandatory to put on labels if the food was GM or not, that makes me believe they use GMO’s in their brands. Why else would they not want GMO to be on the label.
I emailed Barbara’s a while back because we buy their Shredded Oats at Trader Joe’s. Barbara’s IS in the process of submitting their cereals to the Non-GMO project. You shouldn’t disparage (they’re in your BAD COMPANIES photo above) unless you’ve actually confirmed that a company isn’t even trying. Barbara’s IS. This is the email I received from them:
“Barbara’s is concerned about GMOs in our products and makes every effort to source non genetically modified organisms. However, due to sourcing issues we cannot always guarantee it. The high percentages of crops grown domestically from GM seeds make it an ongoing problem in obtaining adequate supply. That’s why we are working with The Non GMO Project. Their mission is to work more directly with farmers and suppliers to insure adequate availability of non GMO crops. The Natural industry is working hard to establish an industry accepted verification process through the Non GMO Project.
Recently they have verified 17 of our products, including the Shredded Oats and, although they have not tested and verified the Puffins cereals yet, we expect to have the remainder of our products verified before the end of this year.”
Also you put up a photo of Joe’s O’s next to Cheerio’s and I’m SURE that’s not their source (unless you have that verified). The taste and texture are completely different. My kids immediately knew when I subbed out Joe’s O’s for Cheerio’s (my husband claims the Joe’s are saltier tasting, too). The Joe’s O’s are also less dense.
So unless General Mills has a different factory line making Joe’s O’s, they’re not the same thing as Cheerio’s, I assure you. Anyone who’s tried both – especially a toddler – can easily tell they’re not.
Thanks for the informative post!
I read your previous post about carrageenan a while back. After reading your post about carrageenan & making sure it is not something we consume, I came to find out that it is in our toothpaste, which is Now XyliWhite. Is it bad for you if it is in your toothpaste? I am assuming it is, but wanted to check. If you would be so kind as to let me know, I would appreciate it!
Hi Faith – Food Babe does not worry about it as much in toothpaste because it is not ingested. (except for young kids who might swallow some)
Wow Food Babe,
That was depressing to read! It made me like you a little less. TJ’s came out against GMOs publicly LONG before your beloved (stupid, greedy, self serving, out sourcing, wage lowering, illegal immigrant hiring) Wholefoods ever even came to the table! It made me personally wonder if you were given compensation for muddying the waters on a VERY controversial topic in which WholePaycheck had started to look very much like the sore loser! Insisting that they just couldn’t do ANYTHING about GMOs until consumers started boycotting their crappy GMO laden products and switching over to TJs in droves. I am not an employee, a family member of an employee, or in anyway a paid shill for said company, I just happen to be a grateful customer who appreciates that they are moving as fast as they can to get our planet headed in a better, Monsanto free direction. Stop throwing rocks at the good guys or I will stop reading (and more importantly recommending) your website (which here-to-fore, I had seen as a force for good!)
Sincerely,
Robin
It is interesting that when I brought this article up in my browser, there was a banner ad for Vons. Does this mean that FoodBabe is compensated by the competition to trash TJ’s?
I would also be careful with any of their products that claim to be Gluten Free if you need to avoid gluten for medical reasons. We bought the GF frozen waffles and my daughter, who has celiac, got very sick from eating them. When we contacted the company via their website they didn’t even reply to us. I like shopping at TJ’s but I agree with this article that no one is perfect and you have to read labels with a grain of salt.
Buyer beware. I don’t actually trust most of TJ’s products for two reasons. First, that lovely “imported by Trader Joes label….with no country of origin listed. Hmmmm….. Could it possibly be coming from somewhere, that if the customers were aware of it’s origin, they wouldn’t buy it? Just a thought. Second, their “organics”. Because of #1. Most of their products are imported, from countries with rather sketchy records. Note, most “certified” “organics” from most of the countries that TJ’s imports from [ok, and most other stores too] aren’t really organic. The importing agency asks if the product is organic & the seller simply signs a piece of paper saying it’s organic. Yea. Right. And I’ve got some lovely Ocean front property in Arizona. It’s not like here. Ever wonder why Nob Hill/Raleys stopped their residue testing? LOL. Because most of the “organics” tested higher in residue than their conventionally raised American counterparts. More food for thought.
My family has yet to figure out what’s so great about Trader Joe’s. We’ve attempted to shop there several times but always come out empty handed or nearly empty. They don’t carry that many organic items and most of the products are their own label (but still not labeled organic). We tend to think of them more as a gourmet store vs. healthy. Gourmet stores can be fun to shop at but don’t suffice for putting healthy meals on the table. We also have not found their prices to be that great. What are we missing that everyone else sees in them? We read the labels and see the junk in the products and leave the store. We have better luck at Whole Foods (yes still plenty of junk there too but a larger variety of labeled organic and non-gmo) and local supermarkets and co-ops who sell dairy products with better organic company ratings. Perhaps it’s because we don’t buy a lot of packaged foods except the base items needed to cook at home but overall we just haven’t been impressed by the store’s offerings yet and it’s not that we haven’t given it enough chances.
I have a contact at Trader Joe’s and I know that they’be been sourcing non-GMO ingredients for years. They purchase copies of our directory, The Non-GMO Sourcebook, every year and give them to their suppliers to help them find non-GMO ingredients. I trust them.