Aldi – Chain is rivaling Whole Foods for less, & Health Nuts are Lovin It! (oh, that’s not all)

Aldi – Chain is Rivaling Whole Foods

By Erin Elizabeth, Founder, Health Nut News 

Update 2: Over the last couple of years, Aldi has been removing certain pesticides and chemicals from its products (which we LOVE) and now- they are going even further! As of January 1st the German grocery store will be removing eight pesticides (Thiamethoxam, Chlorpyrifos, Clothianidin, Cypermethrin, Deltamethrin, Fipronil, Imidacloprid and Sulfoxaflor) from all products on its U.S. store shelves! They are also 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), too.

In addition to all that they have:

• expanded 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 SimplyNature line (which is free of more than 125 artificial ingredients) and their gluten-free liveGfree brand
• yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese, and other dairy products will be free of artificial growth hormones (just like their milk)
• are offering more high-end foods like artisan cheeses, smoked salmon, quinoa, and coconut oil

Again, thank you Aldi!

Update: After 100k+ views in a few hours on this piece – I have people asking me for alternatives who don’t live near Aldi or other stores.   I love Thrive Market (we use them all the time) that has uber cheap prices online (non-gmo & organic) and are super affordable.

Onto the article about Aldi (Yay!)

PLEASE NOTE: We were kindly contacted by Aldi US after this story initially ran and were asked to make this update, “ALDI stores in the US, which are operated independently of those stores in other countries, are not included in the pesticide ban that ALDI Germany announced earlier this month.”  (Though we still find a good selection of organic products at are ALDI – so we’ll stick with those only here in the US) 

When Business Insider magazine says Whole Foods should be terrified of Aldi? It’s time to listen up. An announcement was made on January 1st, by the German supermarket chain Aldi, that beginning ASAP and affecting all their US stores, the following pesticides will no longer be allowed on fruits or vegetables:

• Thiamethoxam
• Chlorpyrifos
• Clothianidin
• Cypermethrin
• Deltamethrin
• Fipronil
• Imidacloprid
• Sulfoxaflor

What a way to start the new year!

Aldi has now become the first major retailer in Europe to ban pesticides known toxic to bees, from all produce in their stores. Apparently, public pressure won out again. Thus far, 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. But, some of the largest garden retailers in the UK- including Homebase, B&Q and Wickes have also voluntarily stopped selling neonicotinoids. The bees will be so happy.

If you remember, we covered the EPA’s study on how dangerous neonicotinoids are to bees; those pesticides have been proven to cause bee reproduction, navigation, and foraging, issues as well as suppression of their immune systems. One would like that our own government would ban them as well, but no. Requests, demands, marches, wisdom and now proof from the EPA, have all been ignored.

But not only has Aldi banned the pesticides, they are doing so much more for their customers:

• They’re 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 added 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 SimplyNature line (which is free of more than 125 artificial ingredients) and their gluten-free liveGfree 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.
• Lastly, they have begun to offer more high end foods like artisanal cheeses, smoked salmon, quinoa, and coconut oil.

They became one of the world’s largest food retailers by offering low prices and with these new decisions they are making another well timed decision. 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. I love shopping at Aldi and can’t wait to watch these changes take place.