Sample Letter Sent to Grocery and Big Box Retailerssaferchemicals.org/sc/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/mindthestore.org... · Sample Letter Sent to Grocery and Big Box Retailers ...

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SampleLetterSenttoGroceryandBigBoxRetailers

BobMiller,PresidentandCEOAlbertson’s250EParkcenterBlvdBoise,ID83706-3999 September23,2015Re:BisphenolA(BPA)andotherChemicalsinCannedFoodDearMr.Miller:WeareconsumeradvocateswhoareworkingwithmajorretailersacrosstheUnitedStatestohelpidentifyandreplacedangerouschemicalsineverydayproductswithsafersubstitutes.Our“MindtheStore”campaignisaprojectofSaferChemicals,HealthyFamilies,anationalcoalitionofmorethan450health-mindedorganizations.Wearewritingnowtolearnmoreaboutthechemicalsinyourcannedfoodlinings.BisphenolA(BPA)isachemicalofhighconcernthatwehaveflaggedforpriorityactionontheHazardous100+ListofChemicalsofHighConcern(seehttp://saferchemicals.org/chemicals/).ConsumerdemandforBPA-freefoodpackagingcontinuestogrowasthebodyofscientificresearchhighlightingthehazardsofbisphenolA(BPA)atextremelylowdosesexpands.However,BPAreplacementscouldthemselvesbeachemicalormaterialofconcernthathasnotbeenadequatelytestedforsafety,whichcausesusgreatconcern.Thisunderscorestheneedforretailerstoadoptcomprehensivechemicalpoliciestoidentify,disclose,eliminateandsafelysubstitutechemicalssuchasBPA.TheMindtheStorecampaignplanstoco-releaseanationalreportinlateNovemberinformingthepublic,thepressandpolicymakersaboutthecurrentstateofthecannedfoodsectorregardingthecompositionoffoodcanliningsinuse.WeareparticularlyinterestedinbetterunderstandingthelandscapeoftheuseofbisphenolA(BPA)versusnon-BPAalternativestolinecannedfoods.Asapartofthisreport,ourcolleagueswiththeEcologyCenter’sHealthyStuff.orgprojectaretestingalargeselectionofcannedfoodliningstoidentifywhereBPAand/orBPAalternativesarebeingusedincannedfoodacrossthecountry.WearealsosurveyingmajorfoodbrandsandretailerstoassesstheirpositiononBPAandalternativesincannedfood.

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WewouldappreciateyourresponsetothefollowingquestionsbyFridayOctober23rdsowecanincludeaccurateandup-to-dateinformationonyourcompany’spositiononBPAandBPAalternativesforbothprivatelabelandbrandnamecannedfood.1. DoyouusebisphenolA(BPA)tolineyourcannedfoods?

2. Ifso,doyouhaveatimelineandplaninplacetophaseoutyouruseofBPA?Please

describeand/orattachanypolicyyouhaveinplace.

3. WhatpercentageofthecannedfoodthatyouusecontainsBPA?

4. IfyouarenotusingBPA,whatchemicalsandchemicaladditivesareusedinyourcannedfoodlinings(e.g.vinyl,oleoresin,etc.)?

5. Haveyouoryoursuppliersconductedanalternativesassessment(usingforexampleatoolsuchastheGreenScreenforSaferChemicals)oftheBPA-alternativechemicalsusedtolineyourcannedlinings?

6. Whoisthesupplier(s)ofyourcannedfoodlinings?Pleasedonothesitatetocontactmeatmikeschade@saferchemicals.orgorbyphoneat646-783-3477ifyouhaveanyquestions.Welookforwardtoyourtimelyresponsetothequestionsweraised,andwouldappreciateyourresponsebyFridayOctober23rd.Thankyouinadvanceforyourcooperation.Sincerely,

MikeSchade,MindtheStoreCampaignDirectorSaferChemicals,HealthyFamilies641SSt.NW,3rdfloorWashington,DC20001646.783.3477/mikeschade@saferchemicals.orgwww.saferchemicals.orgwww.MindTheStore.orgCC: ChrisRatto,DirectorofSustainability

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ResponsefromAldi----------Forwardedmessage----------From:<no-reply@aldi.us>Date:Wed,Oct21,2015at1:46PMSubject:ALDI-CaseID#42141To:mikeschade@saferchemicals.org

Mr.MikeSchade641SStNWFl3Washington,DC20001October21,2015Case#42141HiMike,Thankyouforreachingouttous.PleaseknowthatwerequireoursupplierstocomplywiththeU.S.DepartmentofAgriculture(USDA)andFoodandDrugAdministration(FDA)regulations.Thesafetyandqualityofourproductsisourhighestpriority,thereforeallofoursuppliers’productsgothroughrigorousthirdpartytestingandtheirplantsandprocessesareauditedbyathirdparty.IntheUnitedStates,weonlyuseadditivesthatareapprovedanddeemedsafebytheFDA.Atthistime,wecantellyouthatsomeofourproductpackagesdonotcontainBPA.We’recontinuingtoworkwithoursupplierstoevaluateingredientsinourproductprocesses.WehavesharedthisinformationwithappropriatemembersofourCorporateteam.Thankyou,again,forcontactingus.SincerelyALDICustomerService

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ResponsefromAlbertsons:

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ResponsefromKroger----------Forwardedmessage----------From:Lindsay-Walker,SuzanneA<suzanne.lindsay-walker@kroger.com>Date:Thu,Oct22,2015at1:02PMSubject:RE:LettertoKroger-BPAandchemicalsincannedfoodTo:"MikeSchade(MindtheStore)"<mikeschade@saferchemicals.org>Cc:"McMullen,Rodney"<rodney.mcmullen@kroger.com>,"Marmer,Lynn"<lynn.marmer@kroger.com>GoodAfternoon-Thankyouforyourrecentletter.Belowpleasefindourresponsestoyourquestions.1.DoyouusebisphenolA(BPA)tolineyourcannedfoods?

Yes,someofourcannedfoodproductshaveBPAasthecanliner.

2.Ifso,doyouhaveatimelineandplaninplacetophaseoutyouruseofBPA?Pleasedescribeand/orattachanypolicyyouhaveinplace.

KrogerrecognizesthatBPAisperceivedasachemicalofconcernbysomecustomers.Toaddresstheseconcerns,KrogerisworkingwithitssupplierstotransitiontononBPAcanlinersinnumerouscategories.Whilewedon’thaveasettimelineforallproduct,wecontinuetoengagewithsupplierstocommunicateourintenttotransitiontononBPAliners.KrogerInformationonBPAcanbefoundhereandinourSustainabilityReportonpage43.

3.WhatpercentageofthecannedfoodthatyouusecontainsBPA?

Today,allSimpleTruthOrganiccannedproductsarepackedinnonBPAliners.75%ofourBannerBrandcannedfruithastransitionedoristransitioningtononBPAlinersbytheendof2015.SomeBannerBrandcannedvegetableshavetransitionedoraretransitioningtononBPAlinersbyendof2015,however,duetotheacidityforsomecannedvegetablestherecurrentlyisn’taviablealternativetoBPA.

4.IfyouarenotusingBPA,whatchemicalsandchemicaladditivesareusedinyourcannedfoodlinings(e.g.vinyl,oleoresin,etc.)?

Ourcannedsuppliersareusingoleoresinandnon-epoxycanliners.

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5.Haveyouoryoursuppliersconductedanalternativesassessment(usingforexampleatoolsuchastheGreenScreenforSaferChemicals)oftheBPA-alternativechemicalsusedtolineyourcannedlinings?

OursuppliersconductrigoroustestingonBPAcan-liningalternativestoensure

productsafety,productqualityandshelflifearenotcompromised.

7. Whoisthesupplier(s)ofyourcannedfoodlinings?Krogerdoesnotdisclosewhooursuppliersworkwithtosecurecannedfoodlinings.

Ifyouhavefurtherquestions,pleasefeelfreereachout.Thankyou.SuzanneLindsay-WalkerDirector,SustainabilityTheKrogerCo.http://sustainability.kroger.com

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ResponsefromLoblaws

Theirresponsedidnotarriveintimeforpublicationofthefullreportbutisincludedhere:----------Forwardedmessage----------From:SonyaFiorini(LCL)<Sonya.Fiorini@loblaw.ca>Date:Wed,Feb17,2016at10:52AMSubject:RE:SurveyregardingBisphenol(BPA)AandotherchemicalsincannedfoodTo:MaggieMacDonald<mmacdonald@environmentaldefence.ca>HiMaggie,Mysincereapologiesfornotrespondingtoyousooner.TherewassomemiscommunicationinternallyandIthoughtsomeonefromLoblawhadalreadyrespondedwithourstatement.Belowisourpositionstatement.Thankyouforyourpatience,SonyaThesafetyofthefoodandproductsweselltoCanadiansisoftheutmostimportancetous.Asacompany,Loblawhascommittedtoreviewingingredientsofconcernandtotakingmeasuredandeducatedstepstoremovethem,wherepossible,fromourproducts.Weareawareoftheongoingconcernsurroundingbisphenol-A(BPA)andhavebeenactivelyinvolvedinsourcingalternatives.Wecurrentlyhaveanumberofpackagingoptionsinthemarket,includingglasscontainersandplasticpouches.Inparticular,wehavefocusedoureffortsonproductsforinfants,transitioningourformula,foodandsnackproductstoBPA-freepackaging.Asthescienceevolvesandalternativesbecomemorereadilyavailable,wearecommittedtoexploringfurtherreplacements.

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ResponsefromMeijer----------Forwardedmessage----------From:Guglielmi,Frank<Frank.Guglielmi@meijer.com>Date:Thu,Dec17,2015at2:36PMSubject:RE:LettertoMeijer-BPAandchemicalsincannedfoodTo:MikeSchade<mikeschade@saferchemicals.org>HiMike.Weareaprivatelyheldcompanyanddonotcompletesurveysthatrequireustosharewhatwewouldconsiderproprietaryinformation.WhatIcantellyouisthatMeijerhasforbiddenoursuppliersfromusingBPAinanyMeijerbrandinfantformulaorbabyfoodplasticcontainers,babyfoodjarsorcans,reusablefoodorbeveragecontainersincludinglids,babybottleliners,pacifiersorstraws.Additionally,ourcurrentenvironmentalsustainabilityplanincludesrelevantgoalsregardingChemicals&Toxicswithtargetstoreducechemicalsandtoxicsacrossthevaluechain,includingBPA.Thanks.FrankJ.Guglielmi|SeniorDirector|CommunicationsMeijer|989/1|23503MileRoadN.W.|GrandRapids,MI49544frank.guglielmi@meijer.com

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ResponsefromPublix----------Forwardedmessage----------From:MariaBrous<Maria.Brous@publix.com>Date:Wed,Dec16,2015at8:47AMSubject:RE:LettertoPublix-BPAandchemicalsincannedfoodsTo:MikeSchade<mikeschade@saferchemicals.org>Cc:MariaBrous<Maria.Brous@publix.com>Goodmorning,Mr.Schade.WeappreciateyourtakingthetimetocontactPublixrequestingwecompleteasurveyaspartoftheMindtheStoreCampaign.Formanyyears,wehavetakenthepositionofnotrespondingtogroupsurveysorparticipatinginresearchprojects.Wehavefounditnearlyimpossibletoaccuratelyreflectalltheprogress,developments,policiesandproceduresourcompanyhasinplacetotrulyreflectourculture,associatecommitmentandourresponsibilitytosustainablepractices.Rather,weguidecustomerstoourcompanywebsite,www.publix.com,http://corporate.publix.com/about-publix/publix-faq/position-statements,toreceivein-depthinformationtothemostcommonlyaskedquestions.Inaddition,weofferourcustomerstheopportunitytointeractwithusandaskadditionalquestionsbycontactingourconsumerrelationsdepartment,thelinkalsofoundonourwebsite.Whileourphilosophymaynotassistyourorganizationinobtainingtherequestedinformation,wehopethatyouwillrespectourpositionandknowthatfor85years,Publixhasbeenacommunitygrocerdedicatedtoourassociates,customers,suppliersandcommunitiesweserve.WehaveconsistentlybeenrecognizedasOneofFORTUNE’sMostAdmiredCompanies(1994-2015).Asthecommunitygrocerofchoiceforsomany,wewouldneverknowinglydisappointourcustomers.Wecommittodoingbusinessinthemostethical,genuine,transparentandsustainableways.Best,Maria

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ResponsefromTarget----------Forwardedmessage----------From:Melissa.McLean<Melissa.McLean@target.com>Date:Mon,Nov2,2015at4:00PMSubject:RE:Melissa/Greg-lettertoTargetreBPAandotherchemicalsincannedfoodTo:"MikeSchade(MindtheStore)"<mikeschade@saferchemicals.org>,"Greg.Downing"<Greg.Downing@target.com>HelloMike,Inpreparationforourcalltomorrow,IwantedtosharewithyouTarget’sresponsetothebelowrequestregardingcannedfood.AtTarget,productandfoodsafetyisatoppriority.TheselectTargetOwnedBrandcannedproductsthatutilizeBPAinpackagingmeetcurrentFDAstandards,andTargetrequiresitsmanufacturerstocomplywithfederalandstategovernmentalagencyregulations(suchasProposition65inCalifornia).TargetrecognizestheneedtosatisfythedemandsandexpectationsofourguestsandtheimportanceofstayinginformedoftechnicaldevelopmentswithinthefoodindustrythatofferthepotentialtoreplaceorminimizetheuseofBPAinfood-contactpackagingmaterials.Allthebest.Talksoon.Melissa

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ResponsefromWalmart

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ResponseFromWalmartCanada

----------Forwardedmessage----------From:AndrewTelfer-atelfer<Andrew.Telfer@walmart.com>Date:Tue,Dec8,2015at11:59AMSubject:Bisphenol(BPA)Aandotherchemicalsincannedfood...To:MaggieMacDonald<mmacdonald@environmentaldefence.ca>

HiMaggie,

IconnectedwithmycolleaguesintheUSrethistopicandsurvey.TheyreceivedasimilarrequestfromMikeSchadeatMindtheStore.Theirresponseisbelow:

“ThankyoualsoforraisingyourconcernaboutBPAinprivatelabelcannedgoodsinoursupplychain.Webelieveinprovidingourcustomerswithsafe,affordableandsustainablefood.Weseekcontinuousimprovementinoursupplychainandworkwithindustryexperts,suppliersandNGOstodevelopandadvancepractices.Whileweareunabletoparticipateinthesurvey,theinformationyousharedgivesusanimportantperspectiveandhelpsusdeterminewhat,ifany,changesshouldbemadetocurrentpractices.Wewilltakethisinformationintoconsiderationaswecontinuetodevelopourpoliciesandefforts.

Thankyou,again,foryourworktoraiseawarenessaboutsaferchemicals.Wearegladyouareworkingonthisimportantissueandwishyouthebestofsuccess.”

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ResponsefromWegmans----------Forwardedmessage----------From:JasonWadsworth<jason.wadsworth@wegmans.com>Date:Wed,Oct21,2015at2:34PMSubject:RE:Jason-lettertoWegmans-BPAandalternativesincannedfoodsTo:"MikeSchade(MindtheStore)"<mikeschade@saferchemicals.org>HiMike,ThankyouforyourinquiryaboutthematerialsusedasalternativestoBPAincannedfoods.WerequirethatfoodcontactmaterialsusedtopackWegmansbrandfoodproductsarecompliantwithFDAregulations,butwedonotspecifyorprohibitspecificapprovedsubstancesormaterials.Acoupleofyearsback,weaskedthatsupplierslookforsuitablealternativestoBPA.Theyhavehadsomesuccessandcontinuetoworkonthis,buthavealsosharedthatthishasbeenadifficulttaskandthatdifferentfoodsandshelflifeexpectationspresentuniquechallenges.SomeWegmansbrandcannedproductsarenowpackedinBPAnon-intentcansandhavebeentestedforshelf-lifeandproductquality;progressishappeningwithotherWegmansbrandproducts.Wereachedouttosomeofourlargestcannedfoodsuppliersandbasedontheirresponses,itiscleartousthatthelimitedandvariedinformationwereceivedwouldnotbehelpfulinaddressingyourspecificquestions.Inorderforyoutogetthemost-accurateandup-to-dateinformation,wesuggestyoudirectsimilarquestionstothecanmanufacturersandtheircomponentsuppliers.ThankYou!JasonJasonWadsworth|SustainabilityManager|WegmansFoodMa

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ResponsefromWholeFoods----------Forwardedmessage----------From:BlaireKniffin(CECEN)<Blaire.Kniffin@wholefoods.com>Date:Fri,Oct23,2015at12:22PMSubject:Re:LettertoWholeFoods-BPAandchemicalsincannedfoodTo:"MikeSchade(MindtheStore)"<mikeschade@saferchemicals.org>HiMike,Thankyouforyourinitialnoteandfollow-up.IwantedtoprovidearesponsetoyourinquiryasitrelatestoWholeFoodsMarket'seffortsinthesaferchemicalspace.AtthistimeBPAbasedepoxyliningistheindustrystandardincannedfoodswithveryfewexceptions.ThisistrueofmostaluminumcansintheUSanddoesincludesomeofourstorebrand(privatelabel)products.WeareworkingtotransitiontoBPAfreepackaging,butsinceeveryothermanufacturerisalsolookingattheswitch,suppliesofBPAfreepackagingarelimited.Inourstorebrands,ourbuyersarenotcurrentlyacceptinganynewcanneditemswithBPAintheliningmaterial,andwehavetransitionedmanyofourprivatelabelproductstoBPAfreepackages,includingourwaters,ourcannedfishline,ourcoconutmilks,ourtomatoes,ourcannedpumpkinfortheholidays,andnewasepticbean,soup,andbrothpackaging,andthatnumbercontinuestoincreaseassuppliesofBPAfreepackagingincrease.TheU.S.canmarketisdominatedbyasmallnumberofverylargecompanies.WholeFoodsMarketrepresentsaverytinysliceoftheoverallcannedgoodmanufacturingmarket,soourleveragetoaccessthelimitedsuppliesofBPAfreecansissmall.OurhopeisthatwiththeguidancefromtheFDAandincreaseddemandfrommanufacturersforalternatives,companieswillbeencouragedtoincreaseproductionofalternatematerials.Wearecommittedtocontinuingtosearchforthesafestandmostfunctionalpackagingmaterialsforourstores.Best,BlaireBlaireKniffinGlobalCorporateCommunicationsWholeFoodsMarketGlobalHeadquarters550BowieSt|AustinTX78703Office512.542.3483|Cell512.656.3849