HOW TO INTERPRET A LABEL
Common Labelling:
Everyday products like cereal, potato chips and even canned soups can be produced organically. You’re likely to see these marketing labels on many processed products in the grocery store:
- 100% organic
Products with this label can contain only organically produced ingredients, with the exception of salt and water. - Organic
Products with this label must consist of at least 95% organically produced ingredients, with the exception of salt and water. Any other ingredients must consist of agricultural products that can’t be produced organically in commercial form, or non-agricultural products that are on an approved certifying body’s list. - Made with organic ingredients
This label indicates that the product must contain at least 70% organic ingredients. Additionally, it can list up to three of the product’s organic ingredients or food groups on the front display of the product. For example, a container of trail mix might read “Made with organic raisins, walnuts, and grains.” This language indicates that items like honey, sugar, or other dried fruits used in the trail mix may or may not be organic.
Processed foods containing less than 70% organic ingredients can’t use the term organic on the packaging, but they can identify specific organic ingredients on the ingredient list.
Consumer Awareness and Power: All organic certification bodies require products to be clearly labeled with a certification number, production address, and country of origin. Certification bodies also stringently police product labels to ensure that they are not intentionally misleading to consumers with unquantifiable claims.
What To Look Out For:
Many conventional food companies rely on consumer ignorance to market their products:
- The term “Organic” has already been defined above. Know, however, that a product may still be labeled as Organic without a certification from a respectable certifying body. Make sure to purchase items bearing an official logo.
- “All Natural” is a vapid term. Natural is something than cannot be strictly defined by the law. Natural does not mean organic; it typically means no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.
- Ecoterms, likewise, are also abused. Examples include: free-range, green, antibiotic-free, hormone-free, 100% vegan, hypoallergenic, non-toxic, environmentally safe, cruelty-free, etc. Because of a complete lack of oversight on these claims, they have the potential to be absolutely meaningless. Always look for an organic logo to ensure adequate food integrity and honesty. The use of logos such as “Suitable for Vegetarians,” “Fair Trade,” “GMO-Free,” etc. have been approved by the certification body holding the rights to the logo, but in general, the claims are narrow in scope and should not suffice as a substitute for Organic. They do not come close.
Filed under: Food Production and Policy
