How Organic Are Your “Organic” Products?
Filed Under: Organic on October 5, 2009
Everyone knows that you should stick to organic products, and businesses have caught on to this. These days, you can find just about anything labeled “organic”, but is it really as pure as it sounds, or is it all just a con to get you to buy certain products?
Originally, these products were produced by small farmers that had carefully tended their crops and made sure not to use any pesticides on the food they grew. Their animals were fed natural feeds and everything was as good as it could get, completely free of chemicals. Now, big businesses are taking over and that means consumers have to be careful what they buy.
What’s In a Name?
Unfortunately, just because the label says something is organic doesn’t mean it actually is. It really all comes down to how things are worded. What the label says might have a hidden meaning, which is only obvious to those who know how to decipher it.
According to the USDA, the following standards apply to food labeling.
- 100% organic food can be labeled as such and may carry the USDA organic seal.
- Foods containing 95% organic ingredients and 5% non-organic ingredients which can’t be found in organic form can be labeled organic and bear the same USDA seal as 100% organic.
- Food that has been made with 70% organic ingredients must be labeled as “made with organic.”
- Any foods containing less than 70% organic ingredients can only use the word in the ingredients list.
At first glance, this doesn’t seem like such a big deal, but most people don’t read labels religiously and as soon as they see the word “organic,” they assume that it’s good. While this food may be better than others that are completely loaded with chemicals that 5% of other ingredients permitted is an issue for many.
You see, there’s a list of non-organic ingredients that are permitted in that five percent. Many of them are colorings and flavorings that are artificial. Others are a little more evident, such as seaweed, sausage casings, chipotle chili peppers and hops for use in beer. If you are looking for truly clean food, then this can be a disturbing discovery.
What You Can Do
If you are very concerned about the possible impurities and chemicals in your food, even with the USDA seal of approval, you might want to start looking for alternatives. Farmers markets are excellent places to find truly healthy and clean grown produce. Some stores specialize in carrying real organic food so you can rest assured that everything in 100%, but never assume. You should always check the labels for potentially misleading information before making a purchase, since what you see is not necessarily what you get.
When it comes to organics, what you put in your grocery cart might not be as pure as you once thought. Be aware that as more and more large corporations move into the market, the more they will try to their products look better so you’ll pay more.