What does organic really mean?

Once upon a time we had to search far and wide for organic food options and now they are everywhere. What is the deal with organic foods? The word “organic” refers to a specific growing and processing method. In order for a product to be sold and labeled organic, it must first meet all the USDA regulation requirements and be certified organic by a USDA-accredited certifying agent. Some requirements include: using organic seed, no prohibited substances applied (USDA has a list), the use of genetic engineering, ionizing radiation, and sewage sludge is prohibited, animal feed must be 100% organic, and animals may not be administered hormones or antibiotic for any reason. There are a few exceptions: any producer who sells less than $5,000 in one year and any food establishment who sells organic food do not need to be certified.

There are also special labeling for products that contain multiple ingredients:

100% organic: All ingredients used must be organic.

Organic: At least 95% of the ingredients must be organic.

“Made with organic ingredients”: At least 70% of the ingredients must be organic.

Products that contain less than 70% of organic ingredients may not be labeled as organic, but the specific organic ingredients may be specified as organic.

Now that we know what organic means, do not get confused with marketing wording such as: “all natural,” “home grown,” “off the vine,” “fresh,” “free-range,” “hormone free,” or “grass fed.” Although these words are appealing they are NOT the same as organic! When shopping remember to read food labels carefully and look for the USDA organic label.

 

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture (www.usda.gov)