Whole Foods Market® Joins San Francisco Supervisor Alioto-Pier In Calling For Halt In Sales of Baby Bottles With Bisphenol-A

Emeryville, CA (October 21, 2008)—Whole Foods Market Northern California’s Whole Body Coordinator Shoshana Friedman today will join San Francisco Supervisor Michaela Alioto-Pier in support of legislation urging retail stores and hospitals in the city to discontinue selling or using baby bottles containing the plastic bisphenol-A (BPA). This press conference coincides with Whole Foods Market’s initiative to significantly expand its current selection of over 1,000 baby products to include an additional 200 new “Eco Baby” items that are safe, healthy and environment-friendly.

Whole Foods Market has long been a leader in providing safe and eco-friendly baby products to conscientious parents. In 2006, Whole Foods Market took a significant precautionary measure by voluntarily removing baby bottles that contained BPA from its shelves nationwide. By 2007, the Company expanded this to include any baby product that went into a child’s mouth. Whole Foods Market also was the first retailer to offer the BPA-free Born Free baby bottle in the United States and the first to launch the Natursutten, a natural, BPA-free rubber pacifier.

With the expanded selection of Eco Baby products, Bay Area parents will now be able to find a full range of ‘green’ solutions for their children including biodegradable teething toys; a wide selection of bottles and sippy cups which are made without BPA, PVC or phthalates; as well as stylish organic baby clothing. All these items and more will be available at Whole Foods Market’s Eco Baby Centers, conveniently located at stores in Potrero Hill and Pacific Heights (Franklin/California Street).

“As the parent of a toddler, I want to feel confident that the choices I’m making are not only safe and healthy but also environmentally responsible,” said Shoshana Friedman, Whole Body coordinator for Whole Foods Market Northern California. “That’s what makes our Eco Baby Centers so valuable, moms and dads can rest easy knowing they are buying the safest and highest quality natural and organic products for their babies and toddlers because they’ve passed our buyers’ rigorous scrutiny.”

With nearly 28 years of experience in selling natural and organic products, Whole Foods Market carries many unique items not found anywhere else including time-saving convenience foods along with diapers, apparel and gear. Most importantly, parents can enjoy a one-stop shop where each item is carefully evaluated to ensure it meets the strictest standards for quality, safety, results, ethical sourcing and environmental impact.

The expanded Eco Baby merchandise selection comes from trusted retailers including i play, green sprouts, Born Free and Speesees, a San Francisco-based organic clothing retailer, to name a few. Whole Foods Market Northern California is one of the first retailers to carry the green sprouts brand – an innovative line of eco-friendly baby products that includes biodegradable teethers and rattles made from cornstarch-based resin.

“We are thrilled with the new gear from green sprouts and all our vendor partners,” added Friedman. “Whole Foods Market shoppers now have more safe items to choose from, as well as functional items like PVC-free washable bibs from i play and fashionable and affordable organic apparel for their tots from Speeses.”

SAMPLING OF NEW ITEMS:

Gear

- green sprouts Biodegradable Cornstarch Candy Teether, $9.99

- green sprouts Biodegradable Cornstarch Dumbbell Rattle, $9.99

- green sprouts Biodegradable Cornstarch Hand Teether, $9.99

- green sprouts Biodegradable Shopping Cart Cover, $11.99

- i play PVC-free Waterproof Bib, $10.99 for set of three

- BPA-free bottles from Born Free and green sprouts, $7.99 and up

Clothing

- Kee-Ka organic socks, $4.99 pair

- Speesees organic clothing, prices range from $12 to $30

- Variety of organic pajamas, newborn baby gowns, baby hats and booties and eco-fleece blankets

Bath

- Variety of organic cotton bath towels and wash cloths

- Organic body washes, shampoos and conditioners

The new Eco Baby Centers, at Whole Foods Market’s Potrero Hill and Pacific Heights stores, will launch at the end of October with a full range of products. The selection of Eco Baby items will vary at Whole Foods Market’s other Northern California and Reno locations, depending on store size. Please visit http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/ for a list of stores.

For more information on Whole Foods Market’s position on BPA, please visit our website:

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/nutrition/bisphenol-a.php.

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Editors Note: Samples and high-resolution photography of the aforementioned items are available upon request. Additionally, tours of the new Eco Baby Center in Potrero Hill are available upon request.