Whole Foods Has Banned These Ingredients From Their Store Forever

For years, Whole Foods has separated itself from traditional grocery stores by offering organic and all-natural products. For some customers, this is important not only with everyday non-perishables, but also when purchasing items such as produce and meat. The grocery chain's website reads that it maintains "the strictest quality standards in the industry," selling animal welfare rated meat, seafood that is sustainable and wild-caught, and plenty of certified organic produce.

While many grocery stores don't necessarily monitor the specific ingredients that go into their foods, Whole Foods takes its suppliers quite seriously, and it is not so easy for brands to get their products on a Whole Foods shelf. It turns out that there are plenty of ingredients the store doesn't allow, which cuts out many of the offerings you'd find in other markets around the country, from processed chips and cookies to artificially sweetened soft drinks and coffee beverages.

Though most people think of Whole Foods as selling higher-quality produce and meat, its mission to sell good-for-you foods applies to every section of the store. For that reason, the company has a list of more than 100 ingredients it does not allow its suppliers to use in their products. On its website is a document of "unacceptable ingredients for food," which lists ingredients such as partially hydrogenated oils and various sweeteners, as well as several color additives and preservatives. The list also bans certain types of unbleached flour.

Whole Foods' decision to ban these ingredients relates to the brand's belief that "the best ingredients belong on your plate," according to its website. However, the changes didn't all come at once. Since the first Whole Foods store opened in 1980, the company has slowly been adding more ingredients to the no-go list. Its "major milestones" include banning hydrogenated fats in 2003 and high fructose corn syrup just 10 years ago.