30 July 2007, 15:38 PM

  • US chain Whole Foods Market is to be investigated by trading standards officials after a complaint was lodged by Waitrose, reported the Sunday Times.

The Sunday paper said the complaint relates to the way Whole Foods, which opened a store in London last month, defines local produce as food sourced anywhere in Britain. It is also thought there are concerns about labelling.

Kensington & Chelsea Trading Standards is to investigate the London store this week and a report will be issued the following week. David Doctorow, of Whole Foods, said, “Part of our mission and core culture is to support local agriculture. But we don’t have a strict definition of local, that is up to our customers.”

He adds, “We give them the name of the product and where it is from so they can make up their own decisions.”