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Certified Organic
What the USDA Standards Mean to Consumers
By Lyn Mettler
A company may label its product in one of several ways:
- 100% organic – This is usually for a single-ingredient food like fruits and veggies.
- Organic – Ninety-five percent or more of the product's ingredients, excluding water and salt, must be organic. Only ingredients that are not available commercially as organic are allowed to be non-organic.
- Made with organic ingredients – Products must contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients and may list up to three of the organic ingredients or food groups on the product's primary display panel.
- No label – Products with less than 70 percent of organically-produced ingredients may not use the term organic anywhere on the primary display panel. They can, however, identify organic ingredients on the ingredient list.
Companies who mislabel their products are subject to a $10,000 fine per violation, and the government may also shut down their business for five years and prosecute them if they suspect criminal activities.
A Raging Debate
Many are praising the new standards and their benefits to consumers. National chains like Whole Foods Market and Wild Oats, which sell organic foods, and health experts like 8 Weeks to Optimum Health author Dr. Andrew Weil have all come out in support of the new system. Ann Gentry, who operates Real Food Daily Restaurant, an organic, vegetarian restaurant in Los Angeles, feels the standards will be a good thing for her business. "...This certification will increase awareness among the general public, and it is my hope that it will in turn increase the amount of new customers," she says.
