Though the jury's still out on foods made with genetically-modified organisms (GMOs), Whole Foods Market took the first steps to limit, if not, completely eliminate them, from their stores last month.

Working with the Non-GMO Project, a nonprofit consortium of retailers, manufacturers, farmers, seed producers, distributors and consumers, Whole Foods plans to implement the organization's Product Verification Program to ensure its foods don't contain GMOs. Products that make the grade receive the project's non-GMO verification seal.

It's about time, considering genetically modified foods sold in European Union countries are easily identified. Even with the this good news comes at least three caveats worth considering, according to Supermarket Times, whether you're shopping at Whole Foods or anywhere else:

1. A product with the non-GMO label may still contain a miniscule portion of GMO ingredients, up to .9 percent.

2. The supply of non-GMO foods may be limited.

3. Whole Foods will need cooperation from its suppliers, because economies of scale may affect their ability to provide non-GMO foods.

Meanwhile, the "elephant in the room" -- how these extra costs to make non-GMO products will trickle down to consumers -- waits to be addressed.

FoodQuality News.com July 9, 2009

Whole Foods Market Press Room July 7, 2009

Supermarket News July 13, 2009