Whole Foods Promotes Militant Vegetarian Agenda |
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| Written by Weston A Price Foundation | ||
| February 6 2010 | ||
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Whole Foods Promotes Militant Vegetarian AgendaHas the Upscale Market Outlived Its Usefulness?WASHINGTON, DC. February 3, 2010: Whole Foods Markets has launched a nationwide “Health Starts Here” marketing scheme that endorses a lowfat, vegetarian diet, with promises that the diet will “improve health easily and naturally.” The plan promotes the books and private business ventures of Joel Fuhrman, MD, and Rip Esselstyn, both of whom worked with Whole Foods to formulate the new guidelines. Customers now receive a pamphlet urging them to adopt a lowfat, plant-based diet and to cut back or completely eliminate animal foods. Many Whole Foods stores no longer sell books advocating consumption of meat, eggs and dairy products. The plan will feature new Aggregate Nutrient Density Index (ANDI) labels for foods in the store; the index is designed to make plant foods to appear “nutrient dense” by favoring various phytonutrients in plants and ignoring many vitamins and minerals essential to health. “Whole Foods has stacked the deck against animal foods by choosing ANDI parameters that do not include a host of key nutrients, such as vitamins A, D and K, DHA, EPA arachidonic acid, taurine, iodine, biotin, pantothenic acid, and vital minerals like sodium, chloride, potassium, sulfur, phosphorus, copper, manganese, boron, molybdenum and chromium,” says Sally Fallon Morell, president of the Weston A. Price Foundation. “Many of the phytochemicals that Fuhrman includes in the index he developed for Whole Foods play no essential role in the body and may even be harmful.” “Animal foods like meat, liver, butter, whole milk and eggs contain ten to one hundred times more vitamins and minerals than plant foods,” says Fallon Morell. “Plant foods add variety and interest to the human diet but in most circumstances do not qualify as ‘nutrient-dense’ foods.” “For years before becoming deathly ill, I followed the dietary suggestions in the Whole Foods plan,” said Kathryne Pirtle, author of Performance without Pain. “I ate large amounts of organic salads, vegetables and fruits, lots of whole grains, only a little meat and no animal fat. I had chronic pain for twenty-five years on this diet, then acid reflux, then a serious inflammation in my spine followed by chronic diarrhea. Without switching to nutrient-dense animal foods, including eggs, butter and whole dairy products, not only would I have lost my national career as a performing artist, I would have died at forty-five years old! I am not alone in this story of ill health from a lowfat, plant-based diet, which does not supply a person with enough nutrients to be healthy and can be very damaging to the intestinal tract.” “Consumers can send a message about Whole Foods’ misinformed scheme by voting with their feet,” says Fallon Morell. “Most major grocery store chains now carry basic organic staples and a larger array of organic fruits and vegetables than Whole Foods markets. And citizens should purchase seasonal produce and their meat, eggs and dairy products directly from farmers engaged in non-toxic and grass-based farming. It’s not appropriate for Whole Foods to promote a scheme that has no scientific basis and that bulldozes their customers towards the higher profit items in their stores.” The local chapters of the Weston A. Price Foundation help consumers connect with farmers raising animal foods in humane, healthy and ecologically friendly fashion. "The growing emphasis on plant-based diets deficient in animal protein also serves to promote soy foods as both meat and dairy substitutes," says Kaayla T. Daniel, PhD, CCN, author of The Whole Soy Story: The Dark Side of America's Favorite Health Food. "Soy is not only one of the top eight allergens but has been linked in more than sixty years of studies to malnutrition, digestive distress, thyroid dysfunction, reproductive disorders including infertility, and even cancer, especially breast cancer." “Low fat patients are my most unhealthy patients,” says John P. Salerno, MD, a board certified family physician from New York City. “The reason we are spiraling into diabetes and obesity is because of the lowfat concept developed by the U.S government decades ago. Lowfat diets have a low nutrient base, and phytonutrients in vegetables cannot be properly absorbed without fat.” Fallon Morell cites recent studies from Europe showing that lowfat diets promote weight gain in both children and adults, and also contribute to infertility. A meta-analysis published January, 2010 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found no significant evidence that saturated fat consumption is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. “Whole Foods CEO John Mackey has stated that eating animal fats amounts to an addiction. But in fact, animal fats are essential for good health,” says Fallon Morell. “The nutrients in animal fats, such as vitamins A, D and K, arachidonic acid, DHA, choline, cholesterol and saturated fat, are critical for brain function. In the misguided war against cholesterol and saturated fat, we have created an epidemic of learning disorders in the young and mental decline in the elderly.” “Perhaps the vegetarian diet has affected the thinking powers of Whole Foods management,” says Fallon Morell. “It’s time for the stockholders to insist on leadership devoted to increasing customer base, not promoting a personal vegetarian agenda.” The Weston A. Price Foundation is a 501(c)3 nutrition education foundation with the mission of disseminating accurate, science-based information on diet and health. Named after nutrition pioneer Weston A. Price, DDS, author of the book, Nutrition and Physical Degeneration, the Washington, DC-based Foundation publishes a quarterly journal for over 12,000 members, supports 400 local chapters worldwide and hosts a yearly conference. The Foundation headquarters phone number is (202) 363-4394, website westonaprice.org, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Comments about the Whole Foods Health Starts Here scheme can be emailed to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
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written by i'serene, Aug 24 2010
lived in MA & PA before returning home to NYC. so i was delighted to find WFs on 23rd st. then closer to my job @ columbus circle/time warner bldg. until i fainted at the gym. got hip to raw milk, WAP and the rest is good health history. that lowfat no meat mentality had to GO! i still get a lot of groceries from WFs. it's my best source of grassfed beef and some liver. but 97% of all prepared foods are cooked in canola oil and about the same % of packaged products have soy. i was very sad when they removed the only raw drink on the shelf (kombucha). so yes, WFs is certainly the devil to a healthier ME! and 90&#xof; the patrons are short tempered, foggy minded racists that enjoy service from black and brown people that don't make enuf to feed themselves and families on the foods they ring up. i'm totally disgusted by the whole scene.
eat less meat? They must be communists demons
written by Ankur, Feb 13 2010
Gee, good thing we have our federal government subsidies make a big mac cheaper than a salad. That way we can root out these vegan communist demons by making sure everyone gets all the meat they need and we don't need any damn conscious nagging us about mistreating animals.
What's wrong with eating more plant foods?
written by Ritamarie Loscalzo, Feb 13 2010
I am completely shocked by this article. How Whole Foods attempt to educate people to the value of a whole foods diet high in plant foods can be called Militant Vegetarian Agenda is beyond comprehension.
The following is quoted from the Whole Foods Website, Healthy Eating Principles, "Health Starts Here", * No matter what type of diet you follow — including those that incorporate dairy, meat and/or seafood — eat more plants, like raw and cooked vegetables, fruits, legumes and beans, nuts, seeds and whole grains * Eat a colorful variety of plants to ensure you're getting the best nutrients for your body, which leads to feeling satiated * Choose foods that are real, fresh, natural, organic, local, seasonal and unprocessed * Eliminate the consumption of refined, highly processed foods and foods void of nutrients, such as artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, sweeteners and hydrogenated fats This is hardly militant vegetarian agenda. It's common sense. How can you argue with this? Ms. Fallon and Hartke seem to lump plant based diets into the same category as "junk food vegetarian" diets filled with meat and dairy analogues, processed soy products and refined grains, just as many vegetarians lump all meat eaters into the same category as those whose diets are made up primarily of burgers and pepperoni pizza. Sorry, but this Price Foundation Article comes across as promoting a militant carnivorous agenda. As I did a bit of internet research I found that there is a long history of disagreement between the Weston Price Foundation and Dr. Fuhrman, whose guidelines are part of the whole foods project. Why not come together on what we all agree on, that whole, unprocessed foods make up the majority of the diet, that fruits and vegetables are important sources of nutrients – phytochemicals, vitamins and minerals, that organic, pesticide free, hormone free and as close to nature as possible is key for good health. And let each of us decide for ourselves whether animal products work for us and how much we eat. We can argue all day about the dangers and benefits of animal foods and never come to an agreement. The truth is there are lots of thriving vegans and lots of thriving meat eaters. The common ground is excluding sugar, processed fats, refined grains and “fake foods” like soy meat and dairy analogues, and including only whole foods - fresh whole plant foods, high in fresh fruits and vegetables with lots of greens, omega 3 fats, and only animal foods that are organic, free range or wild and free of added hormones. Seriously, someone mentioned ham and bacon as “real food”. Lets get real! I've worked with thousands of people and come to the conclusion that there is no one perfect diet that works for everyone. One man's poison is another man's medicine. I've seen many people thrive on a plant based diet. I've seen others who don't. I've seen miraculous recoveries when people drop the dairy products. I've worked with people who get sick from avocados. There is so much that goes into our biochemical uniqueness. Live and let live. Accept the basic tenants of whole, fresh, organic and unprocessed and allow for each to choose the rations that work best for ourselves. I for one respect the fact that Whole foods is taking a stand for fresh, whole unprocessed foods in spite of the fact that it makes a considerable amount of money from packaged food. It's a move in the right direction. I firmly agree with their guidelines as stated on their new program page: No matter what type of diet you follow — including those that incorporate dairy, meat and/or seafood — eat more plants, like raw and cooked vegetables, fruits, legumes and beans, nuts, seeds and whole grains. Eat a colorful variety of plants to ensure you're getting the best nutrients for your body, which leads to feeling satiated. Choose foods that are real, fresh, natural, organic, local, seasonal and unprocessed. Eliminate the consumption of refined, highly processed foods and foods void of nutrients, such as artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, sweeteners and hydrogenated fats. Come on. How can you argue with this? Beyond food, love, acceptance, appreciation and lack of judgment are all important ingredients for good health. Let's applaud Whole foods for getting this message out. Perhaps some of the fast-food, sugar eating crowd with take heed, and a few lives will be saved in the process. Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, MS, DC, CCN,, DACBN www.drritamarie.com
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written by Raine Saunders, Feb 10 2010
I wrote a post about this on my web site - I am particularly troubled by the contradictions made in their manifesto - eat nutrient-dense foods but avoid meat and meat products? Eat whole foods but encouraging people to continue eating processed foods and packaged foods, i.e., soy, grains, and some vegetable products. It makes no sense! They definitely come out and say reduce and minimize meat and meat products, which without a doubt means eat most of your meals as plant-based or vegetarian. Here's the link to my post and the response I received from their corporate office after voicing my concerns on their web site: http://www.agriculturesociety.com/?p=3209
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written by Clarissa Kelly, Feb 10 2010
I rarely go to WF and now I doubt I will again. My main gripe with that store is that most of their "foods" are processed and packaged, not WHOLE at all! Oh sure, they have WAY-overpriced "fancy" produce and such, but their selection of REAL food is poor. I used to be sick all of the time, eating a mostly vegetarian diet, and I really studied how to do it "right." It sure didn't work for me: carbs/fibre/soy, etc. are garbage IMHO. Now I am on a Fat/Meat/Egg based diet and I finally feel good after 20+ years of trying to eat "healthy." NO THANKS, Whole Foods.
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written by Jim James, Feb 10 2010
Wholefoods in PA is starting to sell grass fed RAW milk in their stores. That doesn't seem militant vegan to me???
http://blog.wholefoodsmarket.com/2010/01/the-family-cow/
this thread is a joke
written by allen, Feb 09 2010
taurine is an essential nutrient!? first time i've heard that. sure meat and dairy do provide high amounts of nutrients, but the fatty residue and excess proteins are unnecessary to the human diet when everything can be found in a much healthier form in leafy greens, nuts, and fruit
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written by James K, Feb 09 2010
A vegetarian diet does NOT cause atrial fibrillation. Ridiculous claims such as this don't help. A healthy, balanced diet is what everyone needs--whether an omni or veggie.
Not everything is true...
written by preeth, Feb 09 2010
Well, vegetarian diet has its +ves and -ves same as animal based foods. Being a vegetarian has not made me sick or the millions of Indians sick or mal nurished.
There is always going to be sickness and well being. its not appropriate to conclude that cetain diet causes cetain illness without well done research and scientific data. I will surely go to Whole Foods. I find the store interesting and innovative.
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written by Connie, Feb 08 2010
I have a hard time believing all of this, since Whole Foods is where I shop for meat, because they are the only ones nearby to have a good variety of grass fed organic beef, free range chicken, cage free eggs, wild salmon, locally grown/made cheese and other things I can't find anywhere else.
Sorry, but in a time when there are TV ads advocating the Taco Bell drive through diet - this article sounds like an overreaction to me. The bottom line is that no one should be trusting ANYONE's marketing scheme for their personal health decisions. But Whole Foods remains a store I rely upon to provide a wide range of healthy foods. Not everything there is healthy though - obviously - you still have to think for yourself.
Blasphemy
written by Thad Quesada, Feb 08 2010
People need to get their heads out of their a$$#&%#. Corporate food profiteers make more money from these products. It wold take 1 box of cereal @ $4-$5 dollars to sustain me for 3-4 hours.
1 egg, (cents), a slice of probiotic traditional sourdough bread ($5 @ loaf) & a glass of RAW milk(cents again) sustain me a 160 pound grown man who does physical work sustains me for 6 -7 hrs. and if i add three slices of bacon or ham !!!!! wow! please read & dont belive the emotional rhetoric of the misinformed. Let's get back to the natural way to eat & live. Boycott supermarkets buy from your local farmers. say no to albertsons & say hi to the mom & pop markets.
It's not just WF
written by Kim, Feb 08 2010
I have noticed that the free health magazines that I get at my local health food store, have a vegetarian slant to them. A recent cover article featured Alicia Silverstone's "Kind Diet" and another mag. had an article on weight loss that stressed a "plant based diet". In the article they quoted someone from a militant animal rights group called Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Turns out their founder was a previous past pres. of PETA.
And I guess we don't have to mention the "climate change" folks who wrongly believe that eating meat contributes to global warming. It seems we are being bombarded with vegetarian messages. As a result, the truth will never get out.
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written by Betta W, Feb 08 2010
Being a vegetarian also leads to developing atrial fibrillation. Our neighbor has been undergoing treatment at a major university hospital for this disorder. He was finally convinced to add meat to his diet, and after several weeks the fibrillation has ceased. "Everything in moderation" still holds true: not too much of any one thing, and don't leave out any food group.
... written by Jim Purdy, Feb 08 2010
When I shopped at my local Whole Foods Market recently, I purchased several items that I have difficulty finding elsewhere, including wild salmon and a wide variety o organic yogurt. I ;love Whole Foods.
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