HumaNourish

Wondering what USDA Organic really means? I was curious as to what the restrictions and guidelines were for a product to become USDA Cert. Organic. And after going onto the USDA website I have realized that when purchasing an item you need to be aware of the “catch phrases” that are used and what they mean. Here is what I found out:

1. If the product has the Green USDA seal, its 95% organic or more.

2. If the product is completely organic it can say “100% organic” and have the USDA seal.

3. If the product is 95% organic it can have the term”organic” and have the seal.

4. If the product is 70% organic it can have the phrase “made with organic ingredients” but not the green seal.

5. If the product is less than 70% organic it cannot have any of the three terms listed on the package. However, it is allowed to list the organic items in the ingredients list.

6. Producers of “organic” products that sell less than $5,000 a year are exempt from the USDA Certification and seal.

7. While all organic products are subject to USDA standards, putting the seal onto the product is voluntary. So there could be foods out there that are 70% organic or more and not labeled as such.

8. Violators who are selling under the “organic” umbrella falsely or uncertified can be fined upwards of $10,000.

So now that I know a little bit more about what the terminology on the packaging implies, I can keep better track of what I am eating and look for the coined phrases next time I hit the store! Check out www.usda-fda.com for more information on this subject.