Contents
What Is Organic Food?
Organic vs. Nonorganic: Understanding the Issues
Organic Produce
Organic Grains
Organic Beans, Nuts, and Oils
Organic Dairy Products, Eggs, and Soy Products
Organic Meat
Organic Fish
Organic Processed Foods
Organic Coffee
Learn more with these titles from Barnes & Noble
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- A guide to organic food labels and different levels of organic certification
- Info on environmental, ethical, and nutritional issues surrounding organic food
- Tips on buying organic produce, grains, dairy, meat, fish, coffee, and more
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What Is Organic Food?
Organic food differs from conventional food in the way that it is grown, handled, and processed. In the simplest terms, organic food is produced without the following:
- Most conventional pesticides
- Synthetic or sewage-derived fertilizers
- Genetically modified organisms
- Ionizing radiation (irradiation)
- Antibiotics
- Growth hormones
In addition, organic farmers also stress the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to improve the quality of the environment for future generations.
The Organic Food Movement
After the introduction of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides in the 1940s, activists began to question the use of chemicals in agriculture and food production. Raising concerns about the effects of these chemicals on human health and the environment, they launched the organic food movement, which in the last 25 years has grown into a multi-billion dollar industry. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) now strictly regulates use of the term “organic” in relation to the sale of food products in the United States.
How Organic Products Are Labeled
Not all organic product labels look alike. The USDA has imposed strict regulations dictating how organic products must be labeled based on the percentage of organic ingredients they contain. There are a few tiers to this system:
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Organic: Single-ingredient foods (such as
fruits, vegetables, milk, meats, cheese, and eggs) and multi-ingredient foods that contain between 95% and 100% organic ingredients may be certified organic. To be labeled 100% organic, a product must contain 100% organically produced ingredients, not counting added water or salt.
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Made with organic . . . :
Products containing between 70% and 95% organic ingredients may include the words made with organic . . . on
the front.
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Less than 70% organic
ingredients: Products containing less than 70% organic ingredients may
cite this fact only on the
back panel.
Certified vs. Not Certified
The term certified organic indicates that a product complies with the regulations of the National Organic
Program (NOP) and has been certified by an independent, USDA-approved certifying agency. Some producers who use organic practices but yield less than $5,000 worth of
products annually are permitted to use the term “organic” without having their operations certified. They are prohibited, however, from using the certified organic seal.
How to Understand Other Food Labels
Some food labels refer not to organic growing practices, but to other methods that some producers have adopted as alternatives to conventional agricultural practices. Be aware that products labeled with the following terms are not necessarily organic products.
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All natural/naturally
grown: Indicates that a product was processed and packaged without preservatives or additives
but that it may include genetically modified ingredients or ingredients grown with the use of pesticides. No federal regulatory body monitors natural foods, and natural products are not necessarily organic.
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Free-range/cage-free:
Signifies that livestock is raised with access to
the outdoors. The USDA regulates this term only for poultry, and these regulations do not specify a minimum amount of outdoor access required for
poultry to be labeled free-range. Free-range products are not necessarily organic.
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Raised without antibiotics/
no antibiotics used:
Signifies that livestock has
not received any antibiotics during its life (see Organic vs. Nonorganic: Understanding the Issues). Livestock raised without antibiotics are not necessarily organic.
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Grass-fed/meadow-raised/
vegetarian-fed: Grass-fed livestock are raised exclusively on grasses and legumes. Meadow-raised livestock are also fed grains. Vegetarian-fed (or some variation of this label) indicates that livestock were not fed other animal parts. These products can be either organic or nonorganic.
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Biodynamic: An organic production
method that focuses on natural rhythms of the sun, moon, planets, and stars in an attempt to achieve harmony among people, plants, and animals. The NOP does not recognize the term “biody-namic,” but the independent Demeter Association does certify biodynamic products.
All biodynamic products are organic.
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Fair trade: A designation given to products (such as coffee, tea, chocolate, and bananas) that tend to be grown in developing countries, to signal that growers of these products receive fair prices for their goods. Fair-trade products are not necessarily organic.
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