Whole Foods Slammed – but is it Ethical?

For the sake of ethical transparency, I like Whole Foods, but am not a Whole Foods “regular.” We shop at a variety of stores not being a regular at any. I am also aware that Whole Foods is more expensive on many items than their competition, and they have the image of being food snobs and “upscale.”  Which by the way doesn’t bother me.  So is Mercedes and BMW.  But Whole Food Slammed raises an ethics question and it’s not Whole Foods ethics.

It is not my role as an ethical consultant to critique and compare retail food stores. I do know that as long as any aspect of the American Dream remains alive, there is no obligation for anyone to be forced to shop in Whole Foods. If you so desire, you are free to by-pass your “WFM” to shop at any number of chain stores (or independent grocers) in your area.  I like freedom of choice.  On the other hand, Whole Foods Slammed creates angst in me when I feel that the slammer may have unethical motives.

I do know enough about retail food operations to know that Whole Foods is not a gourmet food store per se, and they are far from alone in carrying sustainable, natural and organic foods. Again, this is America, and WFM has plenty of competition.

Whole Foods Slammed seems to come from all sides. Some, as we’ve mentioned, deem them way too expensive; the natural foods snobs (and there are plenty), dislike WFM because they aren’t “purists.” The vegans and vegetarians rail against them because they sell meat. The gluten-free people resent the fact that WFM is not gluten free. We can find fault with most anyone.

The WFM chain claims they are the “healthiest” grocery chain, but that is an advertising tag-line – not an allowable FDA descriptor. If another grocery chain wants an advertising tagline that says: “Our Fish Don’t Stink!” they are free to do that as well. Welcome, again, to America.

Enter the FDA

The Whole Foods Market manufacturing facility has recently received an FDA warning letter after an intensive inspection revealing code violations. This is serious stuff. If you’re in the food manufacturing industry, you don’t play games with the FDA.

The warning letter said in part:

“These violations cause the food products manufactured at your facility to be adulterated … in that they were prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby they may have been contaminated with filth or rendered injurious to health.”

Some of the violations included (taken from FDA violations list):

1. Your firm failed to manufacture, package and store foods under conditions and controls necessary to minimize the potential for growth of microorganisms and contamination.
2. On February 16, 2016, your employee was… observed cleaning and directly contacting work surfaces and then packaging and handling exposed product without hand washing or changing gloves in between tasks.
3. On February 16, 2016, your employee in the Bulk-Pack Room was observed assembling bulk cartons while also packaging exposed ready to eat quinoa cakes without hand washing or changing gloves in between tasks.
4. On February 16, 2016, your employee’s unprotected upper sleeves were frequently touching ready to eat leafy salad greens as leafy salad greens were packaged into retail packs in the Pre-Pack Room.

Aside from the fact that February 16, 2016 was not a good day for WFM, it seems as though people in the manufacturing area of the company were not properly trained or supervised on proper sanitation techniques. Or perhaps, they were incapable of doing better, or worse, not “invested” in doing better.

I am not minimizing the seriousness of the Whole Foods Market, FDA manufacturing violations shown above (and many others I did not have room to include). However, an exploration of recent health code violations for several grocery chains shows numerous FDA problems as well. Where was the public outcry and vilification of those chains? Or was it a matter of reverse snobbery?  Here Whole Foods Slammed seems to be more of a government or media grudge than a fair assessment of code violations that most any business could suffer on any given day.  While some would expect perfection, the reality is it’s possible for any regulated business to find minor violations that are not systemic to a big health problem or risk.  Whole Foods Slammed – why?  What’s the underlying motive?

The Bigger Issue

Whether Whole Foods or the other chains, have received violations for unsanitary conditions either in their stores or manufacturing facilities is not as troubling as the seeming lack of industry-wide compliance.

It is no secret that in many sectors of our economy, organizations are having great difficulty sourcing qualified people. In many cases, the amount of compensation versus the level of accountability is very inequitable.

The U.S. manufacturing sector, especially since 2012, has had major problems finding responsible employees. With unemployment as low as 4% in some parts of the country, those willing to hold responsible positions for low wages has dried up.

We can blame WFM for many things if we so desire, even if the criticism is unfair. Nevertheless, let us not single out any retail grocery chain without examining all of them. I would also offer that in general, day-to-day and year-to-year, America has a safe food supply. Rarely do we hear of the problems found in other nations.  In my opinion Whole Foods Slammed is more of a media or government witch hunt than an issue that deserves much attention at all.

I hope the FDA keeps up its inspections and that all of the chains are held accountable. The ethically operative word being “all.”

YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOME!

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