Newsletters: January - February 2007

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Organic Labeling: How I Learned How to Stop Worrying and Love the Seal

By Bobby Dixon

Merriam Webster's Dictionary offers this as a definition for the word organic:

Relating to, yielding, or involving the use of food produced with the use of feed or fertilizer of plant or animal origin without employment of chemically formulated fertilizers, growth stimulants, antibiotics, or pesticides.

Products grown and produced under this definition have gained in popularity over the years, and the demand for them is rising. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA), under the National Organic Program (NOP), regulates and oversees the organic labeling process. Organic farms and processing plants that process organic foods including produce, meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products must be inspected and certified by an NOP certifying agent before these foods can be labeled as organic.

The most common way of identifying a product as organic is through the label. Single food items such as a vegetable or a fruit, a carton of milk or eggs, or a package of meat display a seal declaring the status as organic. However, for foods that contain more than one ingredient, there are three different types of labels for which the USDA licenses.

The first type is the 100 percent organic ingredients label. This commodity contains all organic ingredients, and every ingredient is USDA certified organic. The second type is the 95-to-100 percent organic ingredients label. Labels like this will often, but not always, specify what percent, between 95 and 100, of the ingredients are organic. A 75 percent organic seal means that at least 75 percent of ingredients are certified organic. If a product contains less than 75 percent organic ingredients it may not display an organic label on the front of the box but may list its organic ingredients on the side or bottom of the package.

Examples of these labels can be seen on cereal boxes from Peace Cereal. This company has made extensive use of the USDA seals and has calculated the percentages of organic ingredients in each of their products. The percentages are then displayed on the front of their products. Peace Cereal not only uses ingredients from certified organic farms but requires a signed contract from their farmers ensuring the farmers will maintain their certification as well as participate in environmental conservation in and restoration of their communities.

Use of the organic seal is voluntary, not mandatory. However, if a company displays any of these seals on a product and claims it is organic when it is not, then they may be fined up to ten thousand dollars. They might also be required to have all of the products in question pulled from the shelf.

Here at NLM we carry products that fall anywhere in the spectrum, from items with 100 percent organic ingredients to items with only a single organic ingredient. We also sell many products with no organic ingredients but which are considered "all natural," meaning no artificial ingredients or additives, which is not the same as organic.

If unsure whether a product is organic or just all natural, read the ingredients. It is the easiest way to learn what makes up the food you are going to eat. Many soymilks, for example, may not display an organic seal on the front of their carton but are produced from organic soybeans. Annie's Naturals sells salad dressings, some of which are organic and some of which are not. But do not be surprised to find, when picking up a bottle of salad dressing, at least one organic ingredient. Purchasing organic products means supporting companies dedicated to providing a superior product for both the consumer and the environment.