If you shop for groceries at Trader Joe’s as often as Jay and I do, you might be interested in reading this story from Utne magazine:
I’m not sure that it warrants NOT shopping at Trader Joe’s, but it certainly makes me want to look for quite a bit more information. I have to admit that I’ve had some of these questions in my own mind for a long time, as I’ve often wondered how Trader Joe’s can offer “organic” and “natural” foods for so much less money than their competition, like Whole Foods and Sunflower Market and Fresh Market.
And while you’re reading, click through to this article:
On average, Jay and I eat veggie burgers probably twice a week. I’ll admit that I’ve not previously heard of hexane, nor have I done the research to find out exactly how toxic it is, but still, I’m thinking that’s just gross.
#1 by Melody on May 18, 2010 - 2:03 pm
Re: Hexane– F'ing scary. I'm so glad that Simone did not have a milk allergy. That's all I need– to feed my baby gasoline-derived formula. I like veggie burgers too, but this is an additional incentive to prepare my own. It's not difficult. It just takes a little extra planning. I've done it before using this: http://www.veganlunchbox.com/loaf_studio.html
You can make a vegan loaf, slice it, and freeze the patties individually between pieces of wax paper.
I think TJs does more good than harm, which is more than I can say for most national chains. I appreciate shopping at establishments known to pay workers a living wage. TJs and their parent company Aldi do pay above market wages and offer benefits even to part-time employees. They also seem to listen and take action when criticized.
#2 by Mike on May 18, 2010 - 5:31 pm
And google “whole foods owner controversy” to read the myriad accounts of the decidedly non-liberal attitudes of Whole Foods' CEO John Mackey.
#3 by Scott Barnes on May 18, 2010 - 5:39 pm
Thanks for the recipe, Mel. And I agree, I'm not going to stop shopping at TJs, but I might invest more time looking at the ingredients/etc. in the products I buy there.
And thanks for the Whole Foods link, Mike. I heard this story a few months ago but forgot about it. I don't regularly shop at Whole Foods because it's too far away, but it's good to have this info.
#4 by Lee on May 19, 2010 - 5:16 am
Thanks for posting this. I only shop at TJ's on rare occasions to buy some produce that no one else store-wise sells/sold and they've got a decent selection of dried fruits and nuts that I like to keep around the house as snacky stuff. I was never a fan of TJ's brand since I never found it special or better than anything else I've come across although their frozen organic brown rice is great!!
As for veggie burgers, RATS! I get Amy's brand which is the only brand of it I like and it's listed with Hexane.
Normally, for organic stuff, I shop at a local health food store as well as Sunflower Market.