GMO Labeling

In December 2018, the USDA published its National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard ( opens in a new tabNBFDS) opens in a new tab, which requires food manufacturers, importers and certain retailers to disclose the presence of bioengineered (BE) ingredients when there is “detectable genetic material” in the finished product.

The regulation also requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to maintain a List of Bioengineered Foods opens in a new tabto identify the foods that are available in a BE form. As of December 29, 2023, the list includes one variety of salmon (AquAdvantage) and 13 crops, specifically certain varieties of alfalfa, apple, canola, corn, cotton, eggplant, papaya, pineapple, potato, soybean, squash, sugar beet and sugarcane.

With some exceptions, if a food product contains any of the foods on the USDA List of Bioengineered Foods, or an ingredient derived from any of these foods, the company responsible for labeling the food must include a bioengineered disclosure, unless it has documentation to verify the food is not bioengineered. For foods that require a BE disclosure, there are several disclosure options including a statement or logo with the words “Bioengineered Food” or “Contains Bioengineered Ingredients.”

Whole Foods Market offers a vast array of items that do not require bioengineered labeling, including items that are certified organic and items that are non-GMO verified. All our 365 by Whole Foods Market brand items are formulated to avoid bioengineered ingredients. We are also actively working with our suppliers to find more non-GMO options.

At Whole Foods Market, in addition to suppliers complying with the NBFDS, we require that all non-GMO label claims be third-party verified or certified.

Shopping at Whole Foods Market

Organic Means Non-GMO and More

In addition to many other requirements, organic certification prohibits GMOs, so any product labeled organic is a non-GMO choice.

If It Says Non-GMO In Our Stores, It Must Be Substantiated

We require that non-GMO label claims on products in our stores be substantiated to one of these third-party standards:

Non-GMO Project
USDA Organic (or equivalent international program)
For dietary supplement products only, we also permit the use of approved ISO 17025 accredited testing programs.

365 by Whole Foods Market

All our 365 by Whole Foods Market brand items are formulated to avoid bioengineered ingredients. In addition, we offer hundreds of 365 by Whole Foods Market brand products that are certified organic or Non-GMO Project Verified.

Foods That Are Not Available in a Bioengineered Form

There are many foods that are not commercially available in a bioengineered form. In fact, the USDA only identifies one variety of salmon and certain varieties of 13 crops as being bioengineered. Customers seeking to avoid bioengineered foods can choose products that do not contain ingredients derived from canola, corn, soybean, sugar beet, sugarcane or any of the other crops on the USDA’s List of Bioengineered Foods opens in a new tab.