LAKEWOOD, Colo., July 19,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Natural Grocers®,
America's largest family-operated organic and natural grocery
retailer supports the Food and Drug Administration's recent
revocation of the rule allowing the use of brominated vegetable
oil, or BVO, in food, due to concerns about the chemical's health
harms. The company dedicated to improving human health, the health
of the environment and the health of the economy, has never
carried products containing BVO in its stores.
Natural Grocers, a family-operated natural
& organic retailer, has never carried products containing BVO
in its stores.
Brominated vegetable oil is a vegetable oil that is modified
with the chemical, bromine and used as an emulsifier. Starting in
1970, the FDA began regulating BVO as a food additive due to
toxicity concerns. The FDA continued to evaluate new information
about the possible health effects of BVO as it became available and
began to reduce the list of acceptable foods in which BVO was
allowed.* On July 2, 2024, the agency
concluded that the intended use of BVO in food is no longer
considered safe after the results of studies conducted in
collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found
the potential for adverse health effects in humans.**
NATURAL GROCERS' STANCE AGAINST PROBLEMATIC
INGREDIENTS BVO
"We have prioritized quality products, nutrition education and
consumer transparency since our parents founded this company in
1955," stated Heather Isely,
Executive Vice President of Natural Grocers stated. "While all of us at Natural Grocers
appreciate the fact that the FDA has revoked the use of brominated
vegetable oil in food products, we knew it was a problematic
ingredient from the start. Its only purpose was to impact the
functionality of the food, not to benefit consumers by being an
ingredient that was good for our health and wellbeing.
Chemically modified fats -- such as BVO, are often used by
the food industry to increase the shelf life of products and to aid
in the production of highly processed junk foods and commercial
soft drinks. They are usually added to increase the manufacturer's
bottom line at the expense of consumer health.
Grocery stores play a pivotal position in the food chain, a
system that is essential to our health and wellbeing. Grocery
purveyors, whether online and/or brick and mortar stores are the
gatekeepers — the marketplace that helps to determine how our food
is produced. What is offered for sale drives how our food is grown,
processed and what food additives are added to it.
As your neighborhood grocer, we choose to
positively impact the way the food in this nation is grown and
raised. Others may choose to blindly ride the wave of
whatever shortcut is trending. We choose to be
responsible for the impact our food choices make every step of the
way, from the beginning of every product story to your grocery
basket to, eventually, your kitchen table. Others
may choose to think it's not their responsibility and
sell products that do not represent the most nutritionally sound,
environmentally responsible products.
We feel differently.
Though the FDA's recent revocation rule will be effective
August 2, 2024, manufacturers and
retailers will have a full year to comply before the FDA begins
enforcing the final rule. We advise consumers to read ingredient
labels with care to avoid BVO and other potentially harmful
additives. Better yet, shop with us, where we do the research and
vet each product thoroughly, so your shopping trip can be a matter
of choice, rather than worrying about adverse health effects from
chemically modified ingredients that you can't pronounce.
"THINGS WE WON'T CARRY AND WHY"
Natural Grocers strives to avoid carrying products made with
problematic ingredients, including additives that are allowed
to be added to food.. In 1990 the company created a dynamic list
(one that has been growing ever since) of the most problematic
ingredients and an explanation as to why it will not carry them.
The company's quality standards experts keep up on the latest
research and meet regularly to review specific ingredients,
resulting in on-going modifications to this list.
- "Things We Won't Carry and Why"
To learn more about this values-driven company and its
authentic commitment to building a healthy, sustainable future for
customers, its good4uSM Crew members and communities,
visit naturalgrocers.com/esg-report.
- Click here for more information on Natural Grocers'
standards.
- For media requests, please
contact kmacarelli@naturalgrocers.com.
ABOUT NATURAL GROCERS BY VITAMIN COTTAGE
Founded in
1955, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. (NYSE: NGVC) is
an expanding specialty retailer of natural and organic groceries,
body care products, and dietary supplements. The products sold by
Natural Grocers must meet strict quality guidelines and may not
contain artificial colors, flavors, preservatives or sweeteners, or
partially hydrogenated or hydrogenated oils. The Company sells only
USDA-certified organic produce and exclusively pasture-raised,
non-confinement dairy products, and free-range eggs. Natural
Grocers' flexible smaller-store format allows it to offer
affordable prices in a shopper-friendly, clean, and convenient
retail environment. The Company also provides extensive free
science-based Nutrition Education programs to help customers and
Crew make informed health and nutrition choices. Natural Grocers is
committed to its 5 Founding Principles—including its
"Commitment to Community" and "Commitment to Crew". In fiscal
year 2023, the Company invested $15 million in
incremental compensation and discretionary payments for
Crew. Headquartered in the Union Square neighborhood
of Lakewood, CO, Natural Grocers has 168 stores in 21 states.
Visit www.naturalgrocers.com for more information and store
locations.
*Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Brominated
Vegetable Oil (BVO), Food Additives & Petitions
**Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA Revokes
Regulation Allowing the Use of Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO) in
Food, Constituent Update, July 2,
2024.
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SOURCE Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc.