Early this year German owned Aldi announced that they will be removing 8 pesticides from all US stores as soon as possible.
The list of the pesticides are:
- Thiamethoxam
- Chlorpyrifos
- Clothianidin
- Cypermethrin
- Deltamethrin
- Fipronil
- Imidacloprid
- Sulfoxaflor
Germany is ahead of the curve. To-date, toom Baumarkt DIY, a German hardware-type store will no longer allow “any product that contains this endocrine-disrupting chemical concoction, and as of today, no such products can be re-ordered from their stores,” reports Natural Society. Some of the largest garden retailers in the UK, including Homebase, B&Q, and Wickes, have also voluntarily stopped selling neonicotinoids.
Aldi has now become the first major retailer in Europe to ban pesticides to be known as toxic to bees from all produce in their stores. Apparently, public pressure won out again. These pesticides have been proven to cause bee reproduction, navigation, and foraging issues as well as suppression of their immune systems.
It would be fantastic to see the American government ban them as well, but it has yet to happen. Requests, demands, marches, wisdom — and proof from the Environmental protection Agency, EPA — have all been ignored.
However, we can celebrate Aldi. Not only has Aldi banned the pesticides, but they are also doing much, much more for their customers:
They are expanding their organic food brands, removing some artificial ingredients from products and adding more gluten-free items.
They have removed certified synthetic colors, partially hydrogenated oils, and MSG from their private-label products (which make up 90% of sales).
They have expanded their sales of fresh and organic meat and produce, including the “Never Any!” brand of meats that contain no added antibiotics, hormones, animal by-products or other additives.
They are expanding their organic food brands, removing some artificial ingredients from products and adding more gluten-free items.
They have removed certified synthetic colors, partially hydrogenated oils, and MSG from their private-label products (which make up 90% of sales).
They have expanded their sales of fresh and organic meat and produce, including the “Never Any!” brand of meats that contain no added antibiotics, hormones, animal by-products or other additives.
The chain will also expand the Simply Nature line (which is free of more than 125 artificial ingredients) and their gluten-free live G free brand.
Their milk was free of artificial growth hormones, but now its yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese, and other dairy products will be as well.
They have begun to offer more high-end foods like artisanal cheeses, smoked salmon, quinoa, and coconut oil.
ALDI became one of the world’s largest food retailers by offering low prices, and with these new decisions, they are repositioning themselves. Their prices on fresh produce and packaged goods are already around 30% lower than Walmart’s, but this makes them a force to be reckoned with. They will be able to better compete with not only Whole Foods but also Kroger.
While they currently have about 1,500 stores in the U.S., there are plans to open about 500 more stores in the next two years. Personally, I hope that it will force more stores to make these changes as well, or lose out on profits and customers.
Yes, you’ll still have to use a quarter (which you get back) to use a shopping cart when you shop at Aldi, and you’ll have to bag your groceries. Also, you will have to look at all the products displayed in their shipping cartons.
However, you’ll save a ton of money and have access to clean food for your family. I think the trade-off is more than worth it.
Neonicotinoids are a relatively new type of insecticide, used in the last 20 years to control a variety of pests, especially sap-feeding insects, such as aphids on cereals, and root-feeding grubs. Neonics are systemic pesticides.
Here is Aldi vs Walmart price tag:
Image source :Business Insider
Facts about Pesticides
Pesticides are harmful toxic substances release into environment to kill living organisms, especially insects that harmful crops yield and livestock. A wide range of chemical substances from food coloring to pesticides are added to the food supply during production, processing and handling.
Study has shown that overtime these chemical substances have the potential to adversely affect health.
The use of toxic pesticides to eradicate pest problems has become a rampart practice around the world. Pesticides are used nearly everywhere — not only by farmers in the farm, but also in homes, parks, schools, forests, and roads.
Pesticides have been linked to a wide range of human health problems; such as headaches, nausea disease, cancer, reproductive diseases, and endocrine disruption.
The use of Pesticides can cause many types of cancer in humans. Some of the most prevalent forms include leukemia, non-Hodgkins lymphoma, brain, bone, and breast, ovarian, prostate, testicular and liver cancers.
In February 2009, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry published a study that found that children who live in homes where their parents use pesticides are twice as likely to develop brain cancer versus those that live in residences in which no pesticides are used.
Happy Aldi shopping!!!
Article culled from business insider
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