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The Term "Organic" Has Real Meaning
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has put in place a set of national standards that food labeled "organic" must meet, whether it is grown in the United States or imported from other countries. After October 21, 2002, when you buy food labeled "organic," you can be sure that it was produced using the highest organic production and handling standards in the world. What Is Organic Food? Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; petroleum- based fertilizers or sewage sludge-based fertilizers; bio-engineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled Aorganic©, a government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too. Is Organic Food Better? Currently, for many reasons, USDA makes no claims that organically produced food is safer or more nutritious than conventionally produced food. Organic food, however, differs from conventionally produced food in the way it is
How Can I Tell Organically Produced Food from Conventionally Produced Food? You must look at package labels and watch for signs in the supermarket. Along with the national organic standards, USDA developed strict labeling rules to help consumers know the exact organic content of the food they buy. The USDA Organic seal also tells you that a product is at least 95 percent organic. Single-Ingredient Foods Look for the word Aorganic@ and a small sticker version of the USDA Organic seal on vegetables or pieces of fruit. Or they may appear on the sign above the organic produce display. The word Aorganic@ and the seal may also appear on packages of meat, cartons of milk or eggs, cheese, and other single-ingredient foods. Presently, the use of the seal is voluntary. Therefore, you will find the USDA Organic seal both on all 100 percent organic products and products with at least 95 percent organic ingredients. How Is Use of the USDA Organic Seal Protected? People who sell or label a product Aorganic@ when they know it does not meet USDA standards can be fined up to $10,000 for each violation. Does Natural Mean Organic? No. Natural and organic are not interchangeable. Other truthful claims, such as free-range, hormone-free, and natural, can still appear on food labels. However, don't confuse these terms with Aorganic©. Only food labeled Aorganic© has been certified as meeting USDA organic standards. Four Standard Categories of Organic Products The USDA label terms are determined by how much of the product is organic. The "USDA organic" seal can be displayed only on the top two -- products that are 95 to 100 percent organic. The categories are as follows:
"100 percent organic"
"Organic"
Products that are 70 to 94 percent organic (and whose nonagricultural ingredients all appear on that approved list). Products with less than 70 percent organic ingredients can list each organic ingredient ("organic grapes"), but only in the ingredient panel. NOTE: For more detailed information on the USDA organic standards, call the National Organic Program at 202-720-3252, or write USDA-AMS-TM-NOP, Room 4008 S. Bldg., Ag Stop 0268, 1400 Independence, SW, Washington, DC 20250.
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