Health food store

Health food stores typically offer a wider or more specialized selection of foods than conventional grocery stores for their customers, for example people with special dietary needs, such as people who are allergic to the gluten in wheat or some other substance, and for people who observe vegetarian, vegan, raw food, organic, or other alternative diets.

Whole cereals have their fiber, germ and hull intact and are considered more nutritious.

The Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive, 2004/24/EC, was established to provide a regulatory approval process for herbal medicines in the European Union (EU).

One of the early health food stores, "Thomas Martindale Company" is thought to be founded in 1869 by English immigrant Thomas Martindale in Oil City, Pennsylvania.

[1][2][3] Martindale advocated for healthy living and physical exercise through education and a series of books he authors.

Produce is often emphasized, as at this store in New South Wales
Whole Foods Market has brought large, multi-national corporate buying power to the health food store industry.