Alternatives to the “USDA Organic” Label: How Much Do They Mean?
From “Certified Naturally Grown” to “Non-GMO,” how to decipher natural food claims
It’s easy enough to spot organic food at the supermarket — just look for the government's “USDA Organic” label. But what if your favorite product’s label uses a term like “natural” or “certified naturally grown” instead? What does it mean?
First, here’s what the gold
standard term, “organic,” means. Farmers, processors, handlers and online
vendors who sell more than $5,000 per year must get permission from the
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) before using it to describe their
goods.
“The USDA organic seal assures
consumers that a product has been produced through approved methods that foster
cycling of resources, promote ecological balance and conserve biodiversity,”
says USDA public affairs specialist Sam Jones-Ellard.
But many small, family-owned farms
can't afford the government's often-hefty fees. Instead, many opt for
third-party labels, often sponsored by non-profit organizations. Here are some
of the most prominent ones.
Related: What's
the Difference Between Cage Free, Free Range and Pasture Raised Eggs?
Certified Naturally Grown (CNG). This label is the main alternative to the USDA Organic label and uses the same National Organic Program quality standards. So, while certified producers can't use the word “organic,” they can market their goods as having been grown under similar conditions.
(Photo: Certified Naturally Grown)
CNG uses fellow farmers, instead of paid government inspectors, to inspect farms that have applied for certification, which reduces paperwork and keeps fees low. In 2015, CNG says they approved slightly more than half of the applications for certification.
(Photo: Food Alliance/Flickr)
Food Alliance
Certified.
The Food Alliance certifies food producers for their overall commitment to
sustainable agricultural practices, instead of focusing on whether the
ingredients meet the “organic” standard.
“We
cover the issues that matter to you, including safe and fair working conditions,
humane treatment of animals, and protection of the environment,” writes the
group on its website.
So, for instance, Food Alliance looks at how a farm has
managed to lessen the need for pesticides in the first place, such as planting
crop rows further apart to improve air circulation and prevent mildew.
Most people don't realize that USDA Organic-certified products are allowed to contain certain pesticides and chemicals, according to Food Alliance spokesperson Matthew Buck. “Some of those substances do pose risks to human and environmental health depending on how they are used.”
Related: Going
Vegan? 7 Things to Know Before You Start
(Photo: Non-GMO Project)
Non-GMO Project Verified. This label
was created by a network of healthy-foods retailers for products that are, more
or less, free of genetically modified organisms (GMO). While foods with the “USDA
Organic” label can’t contain GMOs, “Non-GMO Project Verified” lets consumers
know a non-organic product is substantially GMO-free.
Their testing program has its limitations, however. The
verified products might contain a small amount of GMO. For instance, if a GMO
farm is located near a non-GMO farm, crops from both fields might
cross-pollinate. So, farms qualify for the label when they use “consensus-based
best practices”
for avoiding genetically modified
ingredients.
Related: 8 “Health
Foods” That Aren’t So Healthy
Looking behind the label
To
understand more about what a food product label means, do a bit of homework.
Visit the website of the company behind the claim. The USDA requires a web address on the product's packaging “where consumers can access more information about what the claim means,” according to Jones-Ellard.
Look for conflicts of interest. For example, is a
grocery store chain certifying its own products and creating its own label?
Look for evidence that an outside organization is auditing their program.
“That's why independent, third-party certification is the gold standard for
product claims,” says Buck.
Look for certification, not just advertising. If you
see a reassuring word like “natural” or “eco-friendly” on the packaging, know
that it doesn't necessarily mean anything. It might just be a generic
advertising term with no definition.
“Someone can claim to be Eco-Friendly, but unless they
detail exactly what that means and provide supporting evidence for the claim, I
would be skeptical,” says Buck.
The Food and Drug Administration
hasn't established a formal set of rules for the use of the word “natural.” But,
it notes, “The agency has not objected to the use of the
term if the food does not contain added color, artificial flavors, or synthetic
substances.”
One exception is meat and poultry advertised as “natural,” which must be minimally processed and
have no artificial ingredients, such as
antibiotics
or food coloring.
Related: Food
Additives: Are They Safe, or Can They Make Us Sick?
Like this article? Share it with friends by clicking the Facebook or Twitter button below. And don't forget to visit our Facebook page!