Ever browsed the grocery aisles and felt overwhelmed by the sea of "organic" labels thrown on every surface? You're not alone!

Organic food has become increasingly popular and more prevalent in stores, but deciphering the many labels and ingredient lists can be a head-scratcher. Luckily, there are some clear guidelines that can equip you with the knowledge to confidently navigate any organic section and make informed choices about your food and health.

What do organic labels mean?

What does it take for a product to be considered organic?

The cornerstone of organic labeling lies in United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) certification, which ensures that the ingredients used in the product meet specific standards set forth by the National Organic Program (NOP). It’s the only federally-regulated organic label on store shelves, so in order to be officially certified by the USDA to display the coveted "organic" label, the product has to meet a few different requirements. 

In general, an organic product should be produced with agricultural practices that use little to no synthetic materials, will conserve biodiversity, will promote healthy ecological balance and will maintain or improve the soil and water quality of the surrounding area. 

Because these are fairly vague guidelines, each product must be personally reviewed by a USDA NOP agent who can evaluate the product and practices first-hand. That agent will take into account the USDA organic regulations as well as the agricultural practices related to the product and decide whether or not the substance meets the criteria. 

There are several prohibited practices that can disqualify a product from being labeled as organic. The use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is one, as are the uses of antibiotics, hormones and pesticides. Sewage sludge is a big red flag, too, as well as ionizing radiation and high levels of natural toxins like strychnine and arsenic. Even treated wood can disqualify organic labeling if it’s in contact with the soil or with livestock!

If that sounds pretty complicated, then you’re not alone. However, the USDA also has a mega-list of substances that are allowed in organic farming practices, so producers can easily double-check their practices and refer to tried-and-true methods. 

What do the organic product labeling regulations cover?

When we talk about what organic regulations cover, we’re talking about the actual labeling that companies can use to advertise their product. 

The USDA regulates the wording on the principal display panel (PDP) and the ingredients panel of a product. The PDP is usually on the front and contains the first text that a customer is likely to see on the product, while the information panel covers the ingredient list, nutritional information and other product info. If those areas contain the word “organic” or other labels (we’ll get into that in a bit), then you know that the product has been USDA certified. 

Breaking down the different organic labels

There are four different organic labels that can be used on food products under current USDA certifications:

• 100 percent organic
• Organic
• Made with organic ____
• Mentions of specific organic ingredients

The “100 percent organic” or "100% organic” terms are the best of the best, as it means that all of the ingredients are certified organic and have themselves been produced with organic practices. These products can also display the USDA organic seal anywhere on the front of the packaging.  It’s organic from start to finish!

If there’s just the word “organic”, then it means that at least 95% of the ingredients in the product are certified organic. The remaining 5% still has to be made with USDA-approved substances, but those don’t have to be organic. This type of organic food can also display the USDA organic seal on the front!

The term “made with organic…” followed by a list of up to three ingredients means that at least 70% of the product is made with organic ingredients. However, the final product can’t be referred-to as organic and the official USDA organic seal may not be shown on the product. 

Finally, the product can also list out specific organic ingredients if less than 70% of it is made with organic content. The front of the packaging can’t display the USDA seal or use the word “organic” anywhere, but it can display statements like “Ingredients: corn, tomatoes, salt, water” on the front.  Any certified organic ingredients can be listed as such only in the information panel, and the remaining 30% of ingredients can be any non-USDA-certified substances. 

“Organic” vs. “natural” and other labels

There are plenty of federally-regulated labels that determine how producers can classify their products. Even chickens have a whole host of categories they can fall into, from pasture-raised to cage-free to free-range and more! 

The “natural” label is another similar-sounding quality label, but unlike the USDA-certified organic registration, “natural” products are not federally regulated and there are no set standards to meet. 

The USDA does provide a definition for “natural” meat and poultry products, however:

“A product containing no artificial ingredient or added color and is only minimally processed. Minimal processing means that the product was processed in a manner that does not fundamentally alter the product. The label must include a statement explaining the meaning of the term natural (such as "no artificial ingredients; minimally processed").”

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) similarly defines “natural” as:

“Nothing artificial or synthetic (including all color additives regardless of source) has been included in, or has been added to, a food that would not normally be expected to be in that food.”

That’s really all that the federal government has to say on the matter, so marketers often feel free to use the word “natural” as they please — bottom line, be a smart shopper!

All in all

There’s a lot to look at on store shelves today, and with all the colors, pictures and text plastered all over food products it can be hard to tell what to believe. And although marketing ploys exist left and right, at least you know that the USDA organic label you see is the real deal and you can trust that the product has been certified. After all, you deserve to know what’s inside your food, right? 

Good luck! 

Pin it!

Featured photo by Kate Trysh/Unsplash