Well, I didn’t say it. Actually John Mackey, the chief executive of a London area Whole Foods, said it. According to the Telegraph, Mr Mackey noted that shoppers have been let down because Whole Foods, or his Whole Foods maybe in particular has been filling the shelves with fat-laden products.

He said: “We sell a bunch of junk. We’ve decided if Whole Foods doesn’t take a leadership role in educating people about a healthy diet, who the heck is going to do it?” True that. Especially on the heels of the recently launched Whole Foods healthy site for school lunches – I mean why talk the talk without walking the walk?

It’s awesome to be honest, but this comment could be a problem. For example, the Telegraph goes on to note the actions of jewelery chain tycoon Gerald Ratner, who made one of the most famous gaffes in corporate history – at one point, Ratner claimed his products were “total crap” and his empire fell hard.

Still, it is suspicious that a company based on ‘whole foods’, organics, naturals, and so fourth wouldn’t try hard to keep the shelves free of less healthy non-essentials. Later Mr Mackey apologized for his comment and for losing sight of the American-based company’s health food roots but did say that all retailers had a responsibility to help tackle Britain’s obesity crisis. Again – true!

Mackey made his comment soon after the Food Standards Agency said there was no evidence to suggest that organic produce was better for consumers and it had no extra health benefits. Although, that in my opinion was totally crap. So I’m going with this – there’s a little thing called freedom of speech. Mackey practiced this and called out a major flaw of the health food grocery chain; not just Whole Foods either. You see plenty of so called healthy grocers selling less than healthy goods along side their actual healthy products. Consumers trust branded health-food grocers to hand out correct information, useful health tips, and products that sustain a healthy lifestyle. I think it’s a good thing.

What do you think? Do healthy minded chains owe it to consumers to carry healthy products or is it all up to consumers to make smart choices?

[image via Whole Foods]

Post from: Blisstree

Whole Foods sells a bunch of junk!