Organic Food: What Does That Mean?

Have you ever looked at the Nutrition Label of your food and wondered what something meant? This is the place to figure that out!

The organic food movement has a unique vocabulary.  You might never have seen words like:

Food Miles:

Image from: http://ciaraquinn.wordpress.com

Locovorism: Eating foods that are available locally to you. This includes eating foods that are in season, or were preserved during the season that they were ripe. Also, this includes eating foods that have been produced locally, rather than eating bread made in Kansas when you live in Wisconsin.

Image from: thegoodfoodbuzz.wordpress.com

What does “organic” mean?

“Organic” refers to the way agricultural products are grown and processed. Specific requirements must be met and maintained in order for products to be labeled as "organic".

Organic crops must be grown in safe soil, have no modifications and must remain separate from conventional products. No synthetic pesticides, bioengineered genes (GMOs), petroleum-based fertilizers and sewage sludge-based fertilizers can be used.

Organic livestock must have access to the outdoors and be given organic feed. They may not be given antibiotics, growth hormones, or any animal by-products.

Information from: http://www.helpguide.org/life/organic_foods_pesticides_gmo.htm

The most important point to remember is that "natural" does not equal organic.

"Natural" is an unregulated term that can be applied by anyone. Only the "USDA Organic" label indicates that a food is certified organic.

USDA Certified Organic Food Labels

When you’re shopping for organic foods, look for the “USDA Organic” seal. Only foods that are 95 to 100% organic can use the USDA Organic label.

100% Organic – Foods that are completely organic or made with 100% organic ingredients. May display the USDA seal.

Organic – Foods that contain at least 95% organic ingredients. May display the USDA seal.

Made with organic ingredients – Foods contain at least 70% organic ingredients. Will not display the USDA seal. May list specific organic ingredients on the package.

• Contains organic ingredients – Foods that contain less than 70% organic ingredients. Will not display the USDA seal. May list specific organic ingredients on the information panel of the package.

Information from: http://www.helpguide.org/life/organic_foods_pesticides_gmo.htm

Meat and dairy labels: other terms you need to know

The organic label is the most regulated term, but when it comes to meat, we often see many other terms used.

• Natural – This label means “minimally processed” and that the meat can’t have any artificial colors, artificial flavors, preservatives, or any other artificial ingredients in it. Animals can still be given antibiotics or growth enhancers.
• Grass fed – This term means that the animals are fed solely on a diet of grass or hay. These animals have access to the outdoors. Cattle are naturally ruminants that eat grass, so they tend to be healthier and leaner when fed this way. In addition, grass fed beef has been shown to have more of the healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
• Free-range – This means that the animals weren’t confined to a cage and had access to the outdoors. Unfortunately, the animal density can still be very high and the animals may have only short periods outside in an area that’s quite small. It is difficult to tell exactly what free-range means when you see it on meat packaging.
  
• No hormones added – This term is allowed when animals are raised without the use of any added growth hormones. For beef and dairy products it can be helpful, but by law, poultry and pigs cannot be given hormones, so don’t pay extra for chicken or pork products that use this label.

Information from: http://www.helpguide.org/life/organic_foods_pesticides_gmo.htm

Ms. Tamara Schacht

District Media Specialist

School District of Mishicot

tschacht29@gmail.com