Natural Market eliminates high fructose corn syrup from shelves
PCC Natural Markets, the oldest consumer cooperative grocery store in the United States (founded in 1952), is a chain of stores in the Seattle region. Over the last 6 months I have been able to talk with and learn from some of the key leadership at PCC Natural Markets. They have been generous to give us advice as we develop our own business model for People’s Grocery Market. I’m very impressed and inspired by PCC’s strong commitments to values of health, community and sustainability.
PCC has recently made another bold move that has impressed and inspired me even further. In late November they announced that they would eliminate high fructose corn syrup from their shelves. This is an incredible expression of PCC’s values as they choose to not support aspects of the food system that harm their members’ health and contribute to our current health crisis.
To understand just how bold of a move this is think about how many products in grocery stores today contain fructose corn syrup as a primary ingredient. The list includes soft drinks, fruit beverages, applesauce, energy bars, ketchup, barbecue sauce and bottled marinades. Fructose corn syrup is even a common ingredient in many organic and natural food products.
What this implies for PCC Natural Markets’ new decision is that they are cutting out a huge portion of the packaged and processed food products that consumers would expect to find on their shelves. It’s unclear if PCC will experience any financial impact from this decision as the hope is that their members will support and appreciate a decision to support their health. But time will tell how this will play out and whether PCC can hold this decision in place while participating in a food system in which fructose corn syrup is one of the most ubiquitous ingredients existence.
For many of us who would like to see this kind of change in grocery stores everywhere we will be rallying for PCC’s success!
