Whole Foods Market Greens Chicken Packaging

Whole Foods Market (WFM) in the Northeast region has changed the packaging to a much greener option for its in store fresh pre-packaged chicken.  The new packaging eliminates the use of the #6 polystyrene tray in fresh pre-packaged chicken and is leak proof and freezer safe.

It is not known whether the new chicken packaging is being used in other Whole Foods regions. 

The provider of the chicken, BC Natural Chicken LLC supplies chicken to stores east of the Mississippi, primarily focused on the northeast and mid-Atlantic regions according to trade publications.  

Not much is known about the company which is based in Golden Colorado and bought the poultry division of Pennfield Corp for an undisclosed sum in 2003.  The company also sells chicken under the brands Amish Select and Pennfield Farms.  The chicken comes from Fredricksberg, PA.  

The new packaging on the Whole Foods branded fresh chicken is a good step and reduces completely unnecessary excess packaging that has been a standard in the industry for years.  The often white #6 polystyrene trays have become a staple in pre-packaged fresh meat packaging in the US and are always land filled after use. 

While the packaging is a positive step, Whole Foods or BC Natural Chicken are not the first to use this type of packaging in the US. 

As we reported back in March 2008, NY-based Murray's chicken switched to this type of packaging on Earth Day 2008.  The company has been using the more eco-friendly packaging for nearly two years.

Other Whole Foods regions have used this type of packaging for their fresh chicken.  It has been reported Whole Foods in California began selling Petaluma Poultry brand chicken in the no tray packaging last summer.  

Hopefully Whole Foods will provide me with more details on the use of the no tray chicken packaging in their regions - which I will then post.

Comments

[Allen Ying]

i arrived here trying to find out if the bc natural chicken made for whole foods in nyc is air chilled or not.

as for california, when i was in LA, SD, long beach, and SF, in february 2010, the organic chicken was behind the butcher counter, you ask for what you want, and it's wrapped in a sheet of wax paper, and then a sheet of the brown paper.

[Rebecca W]

I went to Whole Foods today (Fort Lauderdale) and there was no fresh chicken breasts (bone in/skin on) in the case. I was directed to the pre-packaged freezer and told all such chicken would now be offered in the shrink wrapped plastic packaging of the above photo. I was told this was for "safety" reasons, being less handling by the butchers. I do not like the idea of eating food that is packaged and stored in plastic, which I believe has the potential to leach into food. There was also no packaging date, just a sell by date. I had enjoyed the wax paper wrapping by the butcher and much prefer that method. I would like to learn more about this chicken and Whole Foods practices with regard to its meats and would welcome any additional information.

[Erik]

Ok, I think it is really cool that Whole Foods is doing this, but I'd really like to see this done at a place like, say, Walmart. That's when sustainable will really happen...

[Dottie - Let's Go Ride a Bike]

I was happy to see this packaging change. Unfortunately, several cashiers have insisted on putting an additional plastic bag around this, even though it clearly says leak-free. I hope Whole Foods trains their employees on to avoid this wasteful and unnecessary step.

[Green Drinks]

Yes I have dealt with employees who are giving more plastic bags that what may be necessary. This conduct must be abated.