What many are still not aware of is that our soil, air, and water are severely contaminated due to the use of synthetic pesticides, GMOs, petroleum-based fertilizers, and sewage sludge-based fertilizers. Residues of these chemicals remain in and on the food we consume.

Additionally, livestock is often given growth hormones, antibiotics, and other animal by-products.

Despite the disastrous effects on the environment, the way the food we eat is grown and raised also affects our health. Therefore, the more we pollute our environment, the more important it becomes to start consuming organic foods only.

The organic produce company Earthbound Farm conducted a poll which found that almost half of Americans purchase organic food, with one in five millennials claiming they do it all the time.  

During the last years, German retailer Aldi is making a name as a health-oriented supermarket which pleases food-conscious shoppers.

Starting from January 1st, 2017, the food chain decided to remove the following eight pesticides from all products sold in the United States: Sulfoxaflor, Thiamethoxam, Fipronil, Chlorpyrifos, Imidacloprid, Deltamethrin, Clothianidin, and Cypermethrin. 

Moreover, the company made additional changes to boost quality:

• Expanding the variety of organic food brands, adding more gluten-free items, and eliminating artificial ingredients from products
• Their private-label products lack certified synthetic colors, partially hydrogenated oils, and MSG 
• Dairy products like cottage cheese, yogurt, and sour cream now lack artificial growth hormones
• Their offer involves high-end foods like quinoa, artisan cheeses, smoked salmon, and coconut oil
• No antibiotics, hormones, additives or animal by-products are added to the “Never Any!” brand of meats 
• The SimplyNature line and their gluten-free liveGfree brand will be expanded as well

Additionally, the existing Aldi stores get brighter lights, larger aisles, less-cluttered shelves, and larger refrigeration space. Aldi also offers meal kits and alternative kinds of milk, such as soy and almond.

Being focused on health, Aldi is now considered to be leading other health supermarkets.

John Karolefski, grocery store analyst and editor of Grocery Stories, says:

“Aldi has a lot of good quality, good-tasting products at good prices. It’s one of the reasons they’ve been so successful in the U.S.”

“The best place you can buy organics, and they’re continuing to roll out, even more, is probably Aldi,” agrees Phil Lempert, food industry analyst and editor of SupermarketGuru.

Their SimplyNature brand is rich in organic products. Karolefski adds that elsewhere, those “can be pricey, but you can get them for a good value at Aldi.”

The low prices of Aldi are partly because most of their products are private-label, so customers do not have to pay for the marketing and advertising that other brands must use to attract them.

Sources:
educateinspirechange.org
www.cnbc.com
edition.cnn.com