Learning the Lingo - A Guide to Defining Organic Shopping

[hotcouponmama]

Label education has long been a challenge for consumers. Understanding what the words on labels really mean and navigating manufacturer marketing tactics is hard enough at a conventional grocery store. We see terms like "fat free" or "healthy" or "low sodium" on labels all the time, but then have to wonder if they are accurate when compared to the nutrition label.

Along comes the organic food movement, and with it, a whole new slew of terms to learn and understand. It's important to understand the terminology because words like "organic" and "all-natural" are not synonymous. In fact, you can find "all-natural" products that are not organically grown or produced at all. Additionally, there are numerous organic certifiers now, and not everyone's standards for certification are the same. You'll can find info about certification standards HERE

We hope this guide helps clear up the mystery and makes shopping less confusing. If you have the information and know what types of products are fundamentally important to you to find, you'll be able to find them much quicker if you can get past the terminology. Note that in other parts of the forum, you'll find more detailed information, but these are key terms defined here for your convenience.

• ORGANIC - Organic is a labeling term which means that the manufacturer/grower has produced their products in accordance with the Organic Foods Production Act. The implication of purchasing an item that has been produced organically is that it was grown or made with organic ingredients; free of pesticides; minimizes water pollution; reduces soil degredation; and to some extent, is perceived to have a better health value than conventional foods. However, an organic label cannot ensure that there are no residual pesticides Studies have shown that even in a start-to-finish organic production, there are residual pesticides which may have been incurred from a neighboring farm. Those same studies do show that the level of pesticides are significantly reduced from the conventional counterparts. USDA requires that to carry an organic label, the crops must not be processed with conventional pesticides, sewage sludge, human waste, or artificial fertilizers. Manufactured goods must not have additives or radiation. Meat is generally produced with limited or no antibiotics and no growth hormones. And while the USDA doesn't disallow GMOs, many believe that foods produced with GMOs are not organic.

• NATURAL - While there is no legal description of Natural on products, more and more, we're seeing a rash of brands claiming "natural" on their labels. There is a push for a legal description which would state that products can only carry a 'natural' claim if they contain no artificial or synthetic ingredients, and if they are minimally processed. When we target a brand as being "natural" here at OGD, we attempt to make sure it fits this criteria whenever possible.

• SUSTAINABLE - As it relates to food, sustainable speaks to the ability to grow food in a continuous way so that it does not make an impact to the environment. In sustainable agriculture, the emphasis is on the capability for a farmer to produce crops organically without sacrificing the ability to make a living in doing so. The other component is about people. Being able to provide livable wages and benefits is an important element in sustainably produced food. It's an important element of creating strong farm communities, and is tied to discussions around preserving agricultural land for the future.

• FREE-RANGE - Although free-range normally refers to poultry like chicken and turkey, it can really apply to any animal that is allowed to be raised outside of sheds or locked stalls. Free-range chickens are almost always fed an organic diet, and may or may not include production with antibiotics Most free-range animals are still raised in a controlled environment, however, it's believed that time outside of sheds and stalls is the more human way to raise animals, even if they are to be later slaughtered for meat. Note that animals not given time outside yet fed an organic diet does not qualify them for the "free-range" designation.

• CAGE-FREE - While cage-free is similar to free-range, and eggs with USDA organic need to be "cage-free", there is no legal definition of what cage-free means. While the term implies hens have access to the outdoors, eggs can be produced by birds living outside cages, yet in indoor facilities. Read more on meat and poultry terminology in this thread.

• GRAIN-FED - This speaks to livestock that is raised on a diet of corn and other grains. In addition, other ingredients can be included in the feed such as cottonseed and molasses. Grain-fed does not necessarily mean organic.

• GRASS-FED - In order to be certified, the American Grassfeed Association's 100% Grassfed Remunant program requires that livestock be fed a diet of strictly mother's milk and/or herbaceous plants during the animal's entire life-span. Further, a grower wouldn't be able to get certified if their animals were treated with hormones or antibiotics.

• RBST - bST (bovine somototropin) is a naturally occuring homone in milk-producing cows. The synthetic version of this hormone, known as RbST, is an FDA-approved hormone used to increase milk production. In conversations about natural/organic foods, this topic tends to get very heated very quickly. Many national brands have switched their dairy products to RbST-free (with a subsequent price increase to accommodate a change in operating costs), however, most cite consumer motivation for the changes, not food safety. While most European countries have outlawed RbST for use in dairy production, farmers across the US use the hormone, with the support of the dairy councils and USDA. Research, being what research is, has been done that favors both sides of the topic. Some has claimed that the hormone has negative affects, others claim the opposite. It's important for you to read through some of the research yourself and come to an informed decision.

• HORMONE-FREE - This term is another controversial one. Currently, the USDA has no definition and considers the term to be "unapprovable" on a label. Currently, pork and chicken have federal regulations that prohibit horomes to be used in production. While a label for pork or chicken may carry a label that says "no hormones administered", it is not an assurance for the consumer that the product is free of other additives like antibiotics or sodium solutions. There is not currently a certification for hormone-free. Beef is approved for hormone use, but does not require any labeling to that affect. If you are looking for meat products and bi-products that are hormone free, it's best to contact a company directly to see what type of production they use in their farming/manufacturering facilities.

• GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS (Food Souces) – Genetically Modifidied Organisms (GMOs) are organisms with genes that have been modified, technically manipulated. This is done to introduce new, or alter existing, characteristics of the food. Genetic modification is used to increase the yield or quality of various crops, or produce new or better enzymes and proteins. For example, GMO soy products are fairly common. GMO techniques are also beginning to replace natural “breeding” in animals to selectively produce lifestock.
  
  The FDA does not require labeling of foods containing GMOs, and this remains a concern to many consumers. There is increasing concern that the long term effects of genetic engineering may have both on human and environmental health are unknown. Legislation has been written to allow products to continue to be sold without labeling, while other legislation would mandate labeling.
  

• FAIR TRADE - While sustainable farming practices is certainly a part of fair trade practices, fair trade more specifically refers to the notion of social justice for farm/agricultural workers, particularly in emerging or third-world countries. Social justice speaks to concepts such as livable wages, better trading conditions, safe work environment, and several other considerations, but in essence, seeking protection for the human side of agricultural production, and striving for equitable work conditions for those who farm the land.

[JANE4girls]

thanks so much for posting this...all the wording had me confused...now I have a better understanding of what I am buying

[Earthartisan]

Wow what a great list!

[BargainSeeker]

Glad I read Earthartisan's post from HCW. I've been buying Free Range and Cage Free eggs and Grain Fed meat for some time. However, I've been hesitant about other foods because of the confusion I have ( and believe me I get confused easily!) with some of the terminology. If I do not undertand or cannot find clarification on something that has to to with edibles, I will not buy. This is great! Thank you!

[BargainSeeker]

I was informed about a little grocery store, a fruit and vegetable like store, in the town next to where I live, where supposedly most of their produce is organic. A neighbor told me about it the other day. She said they are a bit expensive but have everything. I don't know what expensive is to her, might be outrageous for me (I am rather careful with my spending!), but I well give it a try this w/e. If the stuff is great, I will finagle, to fit shopping there, in my budget.

[OHeather]

After talking with a friend, she mentioned that a lot of grass fed cattle are grain fed right @ the end to help bulk them up before slaughter. She had talked to a farmer about this, and he told her to make sure that the animals were grass finished as well.

According to HCM's list and explanation above, that is not what should be happening if they are certified...but maybe you just need to make sure that the beef that you're getting is certified and get it from a reputable source.