What to Look for When Buying Organic

(ARA) - When you pick up a head of lettuce, a tray of tomatoes or a bag of apples in the produce aisle of your local grocery store that claims to be "natural" or "organic," do you know what you're buying?

What exactly does it mean when a product claims to be organically grown? If it says natural on the label, doesn't that mean the same thing?

"Not necessarily," says Jessica Walden, a technical specialist at Quality Assurance International (QAI), an organization that has been certifying organic farms, processors, distributors and retailers since 1989. "Just because the label says the product is natural doesn't mean it's organic."

* Natural vs. Organic

The term "natural" as defined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) refers to products that have been minimally processed or are free from synthetic ingredients. Organic products are actually regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In the U.S., the term "organic" means that the ingredients and production methods surrounding the product have been verified by an accredited certification agency as meeting USDA standards for organic production and handling.

The USDA's National Organic Program (NOP) requires products labeled "organic" to be produced without using conventional pesticides, fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or bioengineering. For example, organic meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products come from animals that are not given antibiotics or growth hormones and are fed organic feed. NOP regulations also require farmland used to raise organic crops to have been free from prohibited chemicals for at least three years.

Organic growers must keep detailed written production and sales records (audit trail) to verify their organic production claims and undergo yearly onsite inspections by a USDA-approved certifier. Processed organic products must be produced in a certified facility, and all organic ingredients and approved non-organic ingredients must maintain their integrity through all stages of handling and distribution.

If a retail product is labeled 100 percent organic, it will show an ingredients list if not a single-ingredient item; the name and address of the handler (bottler, distributor, importer, manufacturer, packer, processor, etc.) of the finished product; and the name and/or seal of the organic certifier, such as: "Certified organic by Quality Assurance International (QAI)." The USDA Organic seal may also be displayed.

To be labeled "organic," the product must contain at least 95 percent organic ingredients. The label will contain an ingredients list, which will identify the organic ingredients as well as the non-organic ingredients in the product, and the name of the organic certifier. The USDA Organic seal may also be displayed.

Products labeled, "Made with Organic (specified ingredients or food groups)," must contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients. The label will contain an ingredients list, which will identify the organic ingredients as well as the non-organic ingredients in the product, and the name of the organic certifier. The USDA Organic seal may not be displayed.

If a product contains less than 70 percent organic materials, the product can make an ingredient panel only claim, i.e. where the organic ingredients are specified on the ingredient panel. These products cannot use the word "organic" on the principle display panel or display any certifier seals or the USDA Organic seal.

"We know people are paying attention to the designation," says Walden. "Consumers today choose to purchase organic products for a variety of reasons. Some individuals buy organic products because of health or nutrition concerns, while others choose organic foods because they feel they are safer, taste better, or offer environmental benefits."

To learn more about organic certification, log on to www.nsf.org/consumer/organic_certification.

Courtesy of ARAcontent