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Whole Foods Market Inc. is in a running antitrust battle with the Federal Trade Commission over its acquisition of Wild Oats Markets Inc. The FCC takes the position that the deal gives Whole Foods a monopoly.

Whole Foods Market Inc. fed up with the Federal Trade Commission's continuous challenge to its merger with Wild Oats Markets Inc. one year ago, has filed a lawsuit against the agency, alleging violations of due process and prejudice.

The Federal Trade Commission has criticized federal district judge Paul L. Friedman's decision to allow the merger of Whole Foods Market Inc. and Wild Oats Markets Inc. to proceed, saying that Friedman ignored the evidence of Whole Foods' CEO John Mackey's emails which pointed to a desire to acquire Wild Oats in order to avoid price wars and eliminate competition.

The Federal Trade Commission's efforts to kill a planned merger between Whole Foods Market Inc. and Wild Oats Markets Inc. was halted federal judge Paul L. Friedman's refusal to allow a temporary block of the deal. This give the two companies a chance to finalize the deal next week, although the FTC may file an emergency appeal.

The Federal Trade Commission believes that a merger between Whole Foods Market Inc. and Wild Oats Markets Inc. would stifle competition and is taking the issue to court to try and prevent the merger.

Whole Foods Market Inc.'s chief executive officer John Mackey has apologized for comments he made on a weblog under an assumed name. In the weblog, he criticized Wild Oats Markets Inc., a company which Whole Foods has been negotiating to acquire. An internal investigation of Mackey's comments has been initiated.

The Federal Trade Commission plans to launch a lawsuit to block the acquisition of Wild Oats Markets Inc. by Whole Foods Market Inc., claiming the deal would raise prices, reduce competition and product quality.