Earth Fare’s Boot Challenge
This morning on Facebook I saw a coupon for a chocolate bar exchange, Earth Fare called it, “Take the Boot Challenge.”
They asked, “How much do you know about the food you’re eating and the wellness products you’re using daily? Come back every month for a new Boot Challenge! Which chocolate bar, based on its ingredients, would you boot.” Well, I got really excited, until I read the ingredient list…
MYSTERY CHOCOLATE BAR A
Ingredients:Milk Chocolate (Chocolate Liquor, Milk, Unbleached Water-Filtered Beet Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Lactose, Soy Lecithin, Vanilla).
MYSTERY CHOCOLATE BAR B
Ingredients:Sugar, Chocolate, Cocoa Butter, Cocoa Processed with Alkali, Milk Fat, Lactose, Soy Lecithin, PGPR, Vanillin, Artificial Flavor, Milk.
That’s when things got interesting… So, I posted to Earth Fare’s Facebook page:
“I was excited to see your coupon for the candy bar exchange, that is until I saw the ingredient list… Your chocolate bar might be “healthier,” but it still has GMO in it. So, it’s not HEALTHY.”
Earth Fare: Which ingredient are you referring to? These bars contain no known GMOs….
Annette M. Hall: got a link? I can’t find it.
Earth Fare: You’re referring to the Boot Challenge, correct?
http://www.earthfare.com/EarthFareVersion2/Home/What-You-Eat/TheBootChallenge.aspx
Annette M. Hall: Filtered Beet Sugar – it’s my understanding that most beet sugar is GMO and Soy Lecithin. Neither of these say they used organic materials.
A chocolate bar exhibiting chocolate bloom
Earth Fare: Since GMOs are not labeled there is no way to tell for sure if it contains GMOs or not. Unfortunately we can only read what is on the label. On that note, we are all for the labeling of GMOs and encourage all of our customers to contact their local government about the labeling of GMOs. I’ll pass along your concern to our grocery team so they can do some more research.
Annette M. Hall: Thank you!
Amy Scott-Lundy: Is the boot challenge coupon still good?
Annette M. Hall: Yes, it’s still good but be aware this item does contain GMO.
Genetically modified sugar beets make up 95 percent of the crop in the U.S. Farmers who grow sugar beets say there isn’t enough conventional sugar beet seed around anymore, and they no longer have the field equipment necessary to clear weeds from their fields. — NPR
Earth Fare: You can’t say for sure that it contains GMOs. If we knew for sure it would NOT be on our shelves. Thanks!
Annette M. Hall: I can tell you, it has GMO ingredients.
Earth Fare: Haha – ok Maybe you should come work for us and tell us about all the other non-labeled GMOs in our store!
Annette M. Hall: I’m sorry, either it is organic or NOT and I’ve been doing my homework. I am not going to lie for you or anyone. sugar beets – GMO Soy Lecithin – GMO Sorry. [Non GMO Project – Verified Products]
Earth Fare: Actually, to call something “organic” it only has to be 95% organic…so technically even some organic items could contain GMOs. That’s why it’s a problem.
Annette M. Hall: While 95% may be the “legal” definition of organic, it certainly isn’t the “moral” definition – and any company who values the organic market would do well to remember that.
This is a problem for me.
Obviously, I’m not going to buy any of Earth Fare’s products, because “You can’t say for sure that it contains GMOs.”
This is the attitude they have, oh well, sorry, “to call something “organic” it only has to be 95% organic.”
That’s NOT good enough!
I actually, stopped every girl scout I saw out selling girl scout cookies. I told them, I’m sorry, but they have GMO in them. I can’t eat them, without getting sick. I guess I’m just supposed to go hungry. I’ll write more about my medical issues tomorrow. You won’t believe it.
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