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Amazon Fresh Store Achieves Zero Carbon Certification

In an important step in Amazon’s Climate Pledge commitment, a Seattle Amazon Fresh location received a Zero Carbon Certification from the International Living Future Institute, becoming the world’s first grocery store—and Amazon’s first building—to receive the certification. ILFI awarded the certification in September, and is currently evaluating four additional Amazon locations, which are on track to achieve this validation of their carbon-reduction efforts.

The 35,000-square-foot store opened in 2022 on Aurora Avenue in North Seattle, and was built with sustainability in mind. Its many climate-forward features include a natural-refrigerant-based refrigeration system, all-electric kitchen and hot water heating systems, electric-vehicle charging for customers, and low-carbon concrete floors. These features are hiding in plain sight throughout the store, and customers may not even realize the floors they walk on have a lower carbon footprint, for example—yet, the store has saved over 100 tons of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) compared to an industry standard grocery store since it opened.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the team and everyone involved in this achievement,” said Tony Hoggett, senior vice president of Amazon’s Worldwide Grocery Stores. “At Amazon, we’re building a best-in-class grocery shopping experience, and part of that is bringing customers more sustainable options across our stores. Enacting initiatives that support Amazon’s commitment to be net-zero carbon by 2040, like the Zero Carbon Certification, are a win for our planet.”

ILFI’s Zero Carbon Certification is a globally applicable standard mandating combustion-free systems, reductions in operational and embodied carbon impacts of a building, and measured achievement through demonstrated data. Its certification is a highly rigorous standard for validating building decarbonization efforts—to achieve it, the Amazon Fresh store operations were reviewed for 12 consecutive months.

“We’re thrilled to see this leadership from Amazon,” said Lindsay Baker, CEO of ILFI. “A grocery store showing how to be accountable for all its carbon—from construction and materials to operations—is impactful from both a customer and industry perspective.”

In addition to the Seattle Amazon Fresh location, three Los Angeles-area Amazon Go locations, an Amazon Same-Day site in Sacramento, and Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle are currently on track to receive Zero Carbon Certification from ILFI.

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FDA Seeks to Ban Brominated Vegetable Oil in Food

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposed to revoke the regulation authorizing the use of brominated vegetable oil in food. The agency concluded that the intended use of BVO in food is no longer considered safe after the results of studies conducted in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health found the potential for adverse health effects in humans.

BVO is a vegetable oil that is modified with bromine. It is authorized by the FDA for use in small amounts to keep the citrus flavoring from separating and floating to the top of some beverages. In 1970, the FDA determined BVO was no longer “Generally Recognized as Safe” and began overseeing its use under our food additive regulations. Over the years many beverage makers reformulated their products to replace BVO with an alternative ingredient, and today, few beverages in the United States contain BVO.

The FDA prioritizes its review of chemicals in food based on risk, science and regulatory authority. Although BVO has a long history of use in foods and was at one time considered GRAS, we have continued to study it to understand any potential health impacts. Recent toxicology studiesExternal Link Disclaimer conducted in collaboration with the NIH have now given us conclusive scientific evidence to support our proposal to remove the FDA’s food additive authorization for BVO.

The proposed action is an example of how the agency monitors emerging evidence and, as needed, conducts scientific research to investigate safety related questions, and takes regulatory action when the science does not support the continued safe use of additives in foods.

The FDA recognizes that California recently took steps to ban the use of four food ingredients, including BVO, in that state. The agency is continuously reviewing and reassessing the safety of a variety of chemicals in food to ensure the science and the law support their safe use in food, including all four ingredients that are part of the recent California law.

In fact, the FDA is reviewing the color additive regulations authorizing the use of FD&C Red No. 3 in ingested drugs and foods (including dietary supplements) under the Delaney Clause of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, which, in relevant part, prohibits the FDA from approving a color additive that is ingested if it causes cancer in animals or humans when ingested. A decision from the FDA is forthcoming.

While these reviews take time, one of the key reasons for the proposed Human Foods Program transformation  underway is to enhance our review of food chemical safety. The proposed HFP would include the creation of the Office of Food Chemical Safety, Dietary Supplements and Innovation where we intend to develop a faster and more nimble process for evaluating chemicals in the food supply.

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The Fresh Market, Feeding America Launch Holiday Round Up Campaign to Ease Food Insecurity

Everyone needs nutritious food to thrive, yet nearly 34 million people, including more than 9 million children, experience food insecurity in the United States. That’s 1 in 10 individuals and 1 in 8 children. That’s why The Fresh Market, a leading specialty fresh food retailer, is launching its annual holiday round up campaign in partnership with Feeding America. This initiative aims to make a positive impact by supporting people facing hunger during the holiday season.

From Nov. 1—Dec. 31, .guests shopping at all 161 The Fresh Market locations will have the opportunity to round up their purchase to the nearest dollar, with the total amount being donated to Feeding America, the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. One dollar helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local partner food banks. 100% of funds collected will go to the nonprofit, with 90% redistributed to local partner food banks and 10 percent to the Feeding America National Organization.

“The holiday round up campaign is part of The Fresh Market’s ongoing commitment to making a positive impact in the communities we do business,” said Jason Potter, president and CEO of The Fresh Market. “The holiday season is all about giving, and we want to make a difference. By simply rounding up their purchase, our guests can help support people in accessing the food everyone deserves and provide meals for those in need, making their holiday season a little brighter.”

Voted as the “Best Grocery Store in America” by USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards in 2023, 2022 and 2021, “America’s Best Customer Service 2021” by Newsweek and Statista and a top 5 most trusted grocery retail brand for specialty and natural/organic foods in the 2022 BrandSpark Most Trusted Awards, The Fresh Market helps guests discover the best with time-saving meal solutions, unique ingredients, and delicious food for any occasion.

From fresh produce and exceptional meat and seafood to signature baked goods and thousands of organic options, the specialty grocer has something to please every palate. The Fresh Market currently operates 161 stores in 22 states across the U.S., inspiring guests to discover new flavors and cook with confidence.

Feeding America is committed to an America where no one is hungry. It supports tens of millions of people who experience food insecurity to get the food and resources they say they need to thrive as part of a nationwide network of food banks, statewide food bank associations, food pantries and meal programs.

It also invests in innovative solutions to increase equitable access to nutritious food, advocate for legislation that improves food security and work to address factors that impact food security, such as health, cost of living and employment. It partners with people experiencing food insecurity, policymakers, organizations and supporters, united with them in a movement to end hunger.

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