Quality Standards
Since 1980 our Quality Standards have defined us as leaders of the natural and organic industry. Our suppliers have always been an essential part of our mission to evolve and advance what we do on behalf of our many stakeholders.
On this page you will find the following resources to help ensure products sold in our stores meet our rigorous standards:
- Unacceptable/Acceptable Ingredients for food, beauty & body care, supplements and household cleaning products.
- Sourcing Standards
- Non-GMO Claims Policy
- Caffeine Labeling Standards
- Floral Accessory Standards
Note that not all Whole Foods Market standards or policies are posted on this site. If you have questions, please direct them to your primary Whole Foods Market contact.
For a brief, but not inclusive, overview of our standards please visit our public website. Note that ingredient lists published there are meant to be a reference for our customers and should not be used in formulating products.
Ingredient Quality Standards
Products sold at Whole Foods Market must comply with our standards for acceptable and unacceptable ingredients for each of the following categories:
- Food Ingredients
- Beauty & Body Care
- Household Cleaning Products
- Dietary Supplements
All products sold on shelf may only contain ingredients we have specifically deemed “acceptable” in the product category.
If you have questions about which category list applies to your product, please contact your primary Whole Foods Market contact. They can also sponsor reviews of ingredients not included on our lists.
Please note:
- Nothing in these documents alters a supplier’s responsibility for ensuring that the products they sell to Whole Foods Market comply with all applicable laws.
- Ingredient lists are updated on a quarterly basis and posted here for your convenience.
- Please check the most recent list for your category whenever submitting product for consideration, whether it is a new product or reformulation of a product already on shelf.
- Pet products and our ingredient standards:
- Pet food and treats are required to meet our food ingredient standards
- Pet care products (like shampoos, powders and sprays) must meet our beauty & body care standards
- Organic pet product claims must meet National Organic Program requirements
SOURCING STANDARDS
Additionally, we have Quality Standards that apply to production methods, farming and ranching practices and sourcing for specific product categories. If you have questions, please direct them to your primary Whole Foods Market contact.
Eggs
Animal Welfare Standards for Laying Hens
All eggs in our U.S. dairy cases must go beyond cage-free and meet our animal welfare standards.
Meat
Our Meat Department sources only from animals raised to animal welfare standards with no antibiotics ever and no added hormones*.
Additionally, All fresh beef, pork, chicken, turkey and lamb are Animal Welfare Certified by Global Animal Partnership.
*There are no hormones approved for use in the production of poultry, goat, veal calves, mature sheep or exotic, non-amenable species (such as bison, buffalo, elk and venison).
Seafood
All wild caught seafood we sell in our Seafood department must be either Marine Stewardship Council certified for sustainable fishing or rated “Green” or “Yellow” by the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program.
Our Canned Tuna Sourcing Policy applies to all canned tuna on our grocery shelves and used in our prepared foods kitchens.
Aquaculture Standards
All farm-raised seafood in our Seafood department must be Responsibly Farmed, meeting our third party-verified Responsibly Farmed aquaculture standards.
Overview for Farm Raised Seafood
Responsibly Farmed Finfish and Shrimp Standards
Responsibly Farmed Molluscs Standards
Packaging Guidelines
Whole Foods Market seeks product packaging materials that help prevent or reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in the overall lifecycle of the package. Packaging choices can help to reduce food waste and divert packaging waste from landfills.
Whole Foods Market Packaging Guidelines
Whole Foods Market Packaging Guidelines Supplier FAQ
Label Claims
Certain label claims must meet the following requirements and may require review by the Whole Food Market Quality Standards Team. If you have questions, please direct them to your primary Whole Foods Market contact.
Organic
Organic Claims Policy
Whole Foods Market requires that all products sold in our stores which make an organic claim outside of the ingredient statement must be third-party certified to an approved organic standard.
WFM.Organic.Policy.U.S.Canada.Supplier Portal.v1.02.14.23
Organic Personal Care Claims
Personal care products making an organic claim on the front label must be third-party certified to one of the following certification standards to make a front-label organic claim:
Organic Retail Certification
Whole Foods Market is the first and only certified organic national grocery store. That means when you sell us your high-quality organic products, we do our part to maintain the organic integrity of this product from warehouse to shelf. Learn more on our public website.
Whole Foods Market Non-GMO Claims Policy
Whole-Foods-Market-Non-GMO-Claims-Policy_Jan-2023
Non-GMO Claims Supplier FAQ Jan 2023
Regenerative Agriculture Claims Policy
At Whole Foods Market, all products that mentions regenerative on packaging must go through our label review process before going on shelf. Suppliers should notify their primary Whole Food Market contact if making a regenerative label claim.
Regenerative Agriculture Claims Policy
Regenerative Agriculture Detailed Guidance for Suppliers
Regenerative Agriculture FAQ for Suppliers
Additional Product Requirements
Products Containing Added Caffeine
Unacceptable & Restricted Use Products
Floral Department Accessory Standards