The shift towards organic eating has gained popularity in recent years. By all accounts, this is good news. Americans have begun to realize the effect that food has, not only on their bodies, but on the Earth, as well. Chemical fertilizers and pesticides not only seep into the soil and the water table, spreading their harmful pollutants to innumerable ecosystems, they also worm their way into our bodies in trace amounts, despite careful washing of produce, to hide away in our fat cells, causing damage unbeknownst to their host. And then there are the growth hormones and antibiotics that are pumped into meats and transferred to our bodies upon ingestion. When you start to take a close look at the practices of our food industry, it can be a pretty frightening unveiling. And this is why many people have started the switch to organics. However, food consumption in our country is a consumer industry, driven by supply and demand, which means it is a business. And whenever you’re dealing with business or a nationwide scale, there are bound to be unscrupulous characters willing to promise you one thing but sell you another.
The worst offenders are “natural” foods. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has strict guidelines for certified organic foods. In order to bear the USDA certified organic label, food products must meet a number of standards. First, they must list a minimum of 70% organic material in their products (although in order to sport the USDA organic seal, they must have 95-100% organics material – those with less simply say “Made with Organic Ingredients”). For those that grow crops, this means at least three years of untreated soil as well as the submission of a comprehensive plan (organic system plan, or OSP) that lays out the practices and substances used in food production as well as the system in place to monitor ongoing compliance to regulations (especially in the area of comingling organic and non-organic foodstuffs).
Further, manufacturers under the umbrella of the USDA organic program must undergo annual inspections. What that means for consumers is a regulated industry that promises foods that bear the USDA organic label will meet their rigorous standards. And while there are some exemptions from this system (for example, operations that produce less than $5,000 per year in product), they are still required to adhere to standards set forth by the USDA if they plan to label their wares as organic. Foods that claim to be “all natural”, on the other hand, actually have no standards.
The term, in itself, is fairly vague and has no legal definition when it comes to food. It is therefore open to interpretation by both manufacturers and consumers. To one company, it could mean foodstuffs that exclude hormones and antibiotics, while others may determine it to mean that no artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners were added. In short, there are absolutely no standards where this label is concerned. When you buy organic, on the other hand, you are paying for a promise. You’re buying into a regulated and standardized industry that ensures the foods you purchase deliver exactly what they promote. Even though they may cost a little more, keep in mind that more people buying equals higher production and lower prices. So skip the natural foodstuffs and go for certified organic to ensure that you’re getting what you pay for and to help drive down prices.
Kylie Lawrence writes for Spirit Pins, a company that specializes in custom lapel pins and sports team trading pins.
