We’ve made a few packaging changes in our Whole Body™ department, and in the spirit of Earth Month, thought we’d give you the details on how we are using post-consumer recycled materials. According to the EPA, nearly one-third of all municipal solid waste in the U.S. is packaging. Fortunately, people are shifting to demand more environmentally friendly forms of packaging…and we’re here to support that!

When you see the PCR (post-consumer recycled) seal, that means the bottle is made with 100% PCR plastic. Some experts say that selecting products that utilize PCR plastics not only decreases production of plastic worldwide, but also reduces the release of greenhouse gases.

Our 365 Everyday Value® brand offers lotion, hair care, hand sanitizers and foaming soap that are currently in 50% PCR plastic. All of the body care and supplements are transitioning to 100% PCR plastic bottles. And, the shipping cases are 30% PCR cardboard boxes.

Our Whole Foods™ brand currently offers supplements in amber colored bottles that are 100% PCR plastic. Supplements in boxes are transitioning to 100% recycled (50% PCR) paperboard. The organic castile soaps are in 50% PCR bottles, and the organic bar soap packaging uses 30% PCR paper.

We know that sometimes all of the choices available in our Whole Body™ department can be a bit overwhelming, so please don’t hesitate to ask a question! Our Whole Body™ Team Members are thoroughly trained and well educated about the products we offer.

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Did you know that there isn’t a government regulation for organic claims on personal care products? That’s right. While the USDA Organic label on food ensures that what you put in your body is truly organic, an “organic” claim about stuff you put on your body doesn’t mean as much. Producers of lotion, shampoo, toothpaste, etc. can label their products as organic but only have as few as one or two actual organic ingredients.

At Whole Foods Market, we think organic should mean organic in every aisle of our store not just the food aisles. So, we are setting our own high standards for organic body care products.

To earn the organic label in the U.S. for food, it must be third-party certified to the USDA National Organic Program standards, which prohibit the use of genetically engineered seeds or crops, sewage sludge, toxic and persistent pesticides, herbicides and fungicides. Since we — and many of you — believe that what you put on your body is as important as what you put in your body, we’re making organics in body care as reliable and straightforward as the existing standards for food. Here are the specifics:

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With our guidelines for organic personal care, Whole Foods Market is working toward ensuring that “organic” means organic in every aisle of our stores. Listen in as we share about our efforts to protect the organic standard for our shoppers, suppliers and planet. Joe Dickson is Global Quality Standards Coordinator at Whole Foods Market.

Podcast: Download

The definition of “organic” should not change substantially between the food and the non-food aisles of our stores:

• When you’re in the produce aisle, “organic” means that a fruit or vegetable was grown without toxic or persistent agricultural chemicals in environmentally friendly ways, and that it was certified by a third party.
• Whole Foods Market believes that this should be the definition in our Whole Body departments as well, which is why we’re raising the bar.
• Our guidelines require any product making an organic claim – including products with ‘organic’ in the brand name – to be made up mostly of organic agricultural ingredients and to be certified.

Our guidelines ensure that “organic” truly means organic in every aisle at Whole Foods Market:

• With food, in order to call a product “organic,” it has to contain at least 95% certified organic ingredients (and the remaining 5% is tightly controlled too) thanks to strict government regulations.
• Since there’s no government oversight of organic body care, consumers have no assurance that “organic” products contain ANY organic ingredients at all.
• Any product making an “organic” product claim – like “organic shampoo” or “organic bath salts” must be 95% organic and certified to the same USDA Organic standard as food.
• Products with more than 70% organic ingredients can make a claim like “Made with organic essential oils and extracts” if they’re USDA certified, or “Contains organic essential oils and extracts,” if they’re certified to the NSF 305 Organic Personal Care products standard.
• The NSF standard is similar to the “70%/Made With” level of the USDA standard, but allows certain ingredients and processes that are specific to personal care products.

These standards will help encourage the quality of personal care (and the industry as a whole) to improve:

• As of June 1^st, all organic personal care products sold in our U.S. stores will be certified organic.
• Looking at the front label, anything that uses the word “organic” must be certified to one of the standards mentioned above.
• Anything with “organic” in the product or name must be certified by a USDA accredited certifier or to the NSF standard – look for the certifier’s name on the label.

According to Joe Dickson, Global Quality Standards Coordinator at Whole Foods Market, this is a huge step with a positive impact for all stakeholders:

By requiring that organic products have substantial amounts of organic ingredients, we’re increasing the demand for organic ingredients and thus increasing the amount of land being farmed organically.

• We’ve already seen many suppliers obtain certification and increase the organic ingredients in their products in order to comply, and this is a huge win for organic farmers, the environment, and shoppers seeking more organic products.

Supporting the health of an infant can sometimes feel like a guessing game with a limited amount of safe options. Find out why homeopathic remedies are gentle and easy to use for a variety of baby-related issues. Dr. Trevor Holly Cates is a naturopathic physician practicing in Park City, Utah, and a consultant for Hyland’s.

Podcast: Download

Naturopathic physician Dr. Trevor Holly Cates uses homeopathy to support children’s health:

• Homeopathic remedies are therapeutically active micro-dose medicines mostly derived from plant and mineral sources.
• These all-natural remedies provide a gentle and effective way of enhancing a person’s immune system and improving symptoms.
• Homeopathy has been used for over 200 years and works as a catalyst to help our bodies act to their fullest abilities.

Homeopathic remedies are regulated and can be used in the earliest stages of life:

• Most homeopathic medicines are regulated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) as over-the-counter drugs.
• Manufacturers have to adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices and market their products with similar guidelines as all over-the-counter medicines.
• Homeopathic manufacturers rely on the Homeopathic Pharmacopeia of the United States to create monographs, or guidelines, for specific active ingredient preparation and strengths.
• Homeopathic products often have different instructions on the labels for children ages 2 to 12, which is usually half the adult dosage.  Dr. Cates recommends less frequent dosing for children and babies than adults.

Remedies are easy to use and can be helpful for tough issues like ears, teething, colic and sleep:

• The top homeopathic remedy for teething is Chamomilla.  It is also a great remedy for colic when the child is irritated and seems inconsolable.  Colocynthis can also be helpful when babies draw up their legs in pain and like their abdomens massaged.
• For ears, Belladonna is a top choice especially when there is a sudden onset with fever and flushed face, but also consider Pulsatilla when the child has had a cold and the pain is worse at night.
• For sleep, it depends on the reason.  Aconitum works well when there is anxiety and restlessness, and Pulsatilla can help weepy, moody children.
• Single homeopathic remedies or combination formulas are found in readily dissolvable tablets placed in the baby’s mouth or as easy-to-use liquids, and are also available in gels for teething and drops for ears.

Say cheese! Or peas! Or bananas! Got a great photo of your baby experiencing their favorite food? Load them to our Facebook contest and you might win a $500 gift card and a Canon camera. Lots of runner up prizes too, so grab the camera and start snapping! March 16 is the final day to upload a photo of your baby to “The First Yum” tab on our Facebook page. (See all the rules here.)

Don’t have a baby? Don’t feel left out! You’ll be able to vote for the winners. Who doesn’t like looking at cute pictures of babies eating? From March 18^th – 25^th, our Facebook fans will be able to vote on 16 finalists to help us choose the winner. You’ll be able to vote once a day.

Thanks to our contest partner, Earth’s Best, we have 16 prizes to award:

Grand Prize: a $500 Whole Foods Market Gift Card and a Canon EOS Rebel T1i camera

Five First Prizes: Will receive Mom and Baby Gift Baskets filled with products from:

• Earth’s Best
• Traditional Medicinals
• EcoNatura
• Alaffia
• Whole Foods Market (365 Everyday Value®)

Ten Second Prizes: $25 Whole Foods Market Gift Cards

Visit The First Yum on our website or Facebook to find out all the details. Good luck!

Choosing products carefully is important to your baby’s health. Learn about the wonderful products and stringent standards for body care in our stores. Whole Foods Market’s Senior Global Whole Body Coordinator, Jeremiah McElwee, has been working in the natural and organics products industry since 1994 and has been a devoted father since 2005.

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According to Jeremiah McElwee, Senior Global Whole Body Coordinator, it is important to a baby’s health to choose products carefully:

• Baby skin is the most sensitive and helps regulate body temperature, hydrate, and protect internal organs.
• The skin is the largest detoxification organ in the body.
• Artificial colors, preservatives, and scents can cause irritation, especially for babies.

Premium body care is a standard developed by Whole Foods Market for our vendor partners:

• The premium body care standards make it easier to choose products like baby lotions, oils, powders, wipes and washes.

• Quality standards team evaluates every product to ensure it meets the premium body care standards.
• Criteria for evaluation include quality of source, environmental impact and safety.

There are many benefits to shopping at Whole Foods Market for your family:

• Whole Foods Market carefully monitors all the products and ingredients we select.
• Our team members are thoroughly trained and educated about the products we offer to help guide customers in making the most informed decisions.

Got a great photo of your baby experiencing their favorite food? Load them to our Facebook contest and you might win a $500 gift card and a Canon camera. Lots of runner up prizes too, so grab the camera and start snapping!

From March 2 through March 16, go to “The First Yum” tab on our Facebook page and upload a photo of your baby enjoying his or her favorite food. You’ll find all the rules on the Contest Page, but a few to note: the baby in the photo must be your baby, and your baby must be under 12 months of age when you submit the picture to the contest.

Don’t have a baby? Don’t feel left out! You’ll be able to vote for the winners. Who doesn’t like looking at cute pictures of babies eating? From March 18^th – 25^th, our Facebook fans will be able to vote on 16 finalists to help us choose the winner. You’ll be able to vote once a day.

Thanks to our contest partner, Earth’s Best, we have 16 prizes to award:

Grand Prize: a $500 Whole Foods Market Gift Card and a Canon EOS Rebel T1i camera

Five First Prizes: Will receive Mom and Baby Gift Baskets filled with products from:

• Earth’s Best
• Traditional Medicinals
• EcoNatura
• Alaffia
• Whole Foods Market (365 Everyday Value®)

Ten Second Prizes: $25 Whole Foods Market Gift Cards

Visit The First Yum on our website or Facebook to find out all the details. Good luck!

For many women, starting a family is an impetus to move toward a healthier lifestyle. Discover where to begin with better choices for supplements, body care and aromatherapy. Malia Curran is a nutrition consultant, speaker and mother of 2 young children.

Podcast: Download

Nutritionist Malia Curran recommends the following supplements for pregnancy:

• If possible, a woman should start taking a prenatal vitamin three months prior to getting pregnant.
• DHA is an essential fatty acid found in fatty fish and fish oil that is vital for the growth of a baby’s brain and nervous system.
• Research shows that babies born to mothers with higher amounts of DHA scored better on attention and visual learning tests.
• For nausea, eat something—such as crackers—before you get out of bed, and ginger or ginger tea promotes a calm stomach.

Choose body care products carefully while pregnant:

• Remember that what you put on your body can be absorbed into your body.
• Skin, hair and oral care products can contain harsh ingredients, so choose body care with a high percentage of natural ingredients and avoid synthetic scents.
• Dilute products containing 100% pure essential oils in equal parts with unscented varieties.
• Look for the Whole Foods Market Premium Body Care™ label for the best choices available.

Aromatherapy can be beneficial throughout pregnancy:

• Only 100% pure essential oils provide benefits, and synthetic scents may be harmful.
• Before using essential oils, always consult your practitioner, and research varieties and usage specific to your stage of motherhood. During pregnancy, certain oils should be avoided.
  • Essential oils are very concentrated and can be harmful if not used properly by diluting them with carrier oils.
  • Never use essential oils directly on skin.
  • Massage is an opportunity to pamper yourself and may also promote a positive mood and comfortable, relaxed muscles and joints.

Aromatherapy can also be used during labor:

• Candles with no petroleum wax or artificial scents can help create a warm, softly lit atmosphere.
• Aromatherapy can also be used by inhaling essential oils from a tissue, the pillow, an electric diffuser, mists or forehead compresses.
• During and following labor, inhaling 100% pure essential oils of rose or ylang ylang may inspire strength; grapefruit, sweet orange or peppermint may promote relaxation and focus; and mandarin, bergamot, lavender or clary sage may support a positive mood.

What fats are essential for heart health and how can we ensure high-quality, adequate intake?  Join us as we discuss the critical role good fats play in a heart-healthy diet. Dr. Hector Lopez is a board-certified specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation, holds a Masters degree in Nutrition and is a member of the Nordic Naturals Advisory Board.

Podcast: Download

Experts believe hydrogenated fats increase the risk of heart disease, however there are healthy fats that support the heart:

• Heart health is dependent on the balanced intake of essential fatty acids or EFAs as they are commonly referred to.  These are considered “essential” as they MUST be consumed in the diet because the body cannot produce them on its own.
• These fats are involved in a variety of molecular mechanisms that have a direct or indirect effect on heart health including: turning certain genes on/off that regulate fat and carbohydrate metabolism; supporting the body’s anti-inflammatory response, and even changing the actual characteristics of LDL cholesterol.

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Read on for a chance to win a gift basket filled with Alaffia body care products.

I would like to begin by first expressing my gratitude and thanks to Whole Foods Market and her customers.  At this same time last year, I wrote an overview on how Whole Foods support of our EveryDay Shea line has positively impacted our disadvantaged communities in Togo. I am pleased to report that the impact continues, as was evident during my recent three week trip to Togo to visit our shea butter cooperative and community project sites.

However, this trip was also a vivid reminder that we must do more. When I think of the current issues that my continent faces, it is debilitating. All economic indications point to the fact that the continent is deteriorating.  Since my last visit, I can see firsthand that Togo follows this trend: trash and plastic are pervasive throughout the landscape, deforestation and other environmental issues are now more serious than ever, economic disparities are widening, and cost of living is increasing while incomes remain stagnant or decline. In spite of these issues, just as we were the day we founded our organization, we remain determined that the overwhelming issue of poverty cannot intimidate us from honestly attempting to mitigate human suffering in our communities.

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