Understanding the Organic Food Definition

The key to successfully recognizing organic food is to see the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) certification label on the products you are purchasing. This organic label guarantees that the product you buy is organic and has been produced and handled as outlined by the particular national standards provided to farmers and other organizations directly involved in food handling. As of October 2002, in an effort to set up a standard for the organic food definition, the USDA organic seal ordered that a product is a least 95% organic. This means that to put the organic label on the product, organic food must be free from any chemicals and bio-engineering that is standard in the production of conventional food. The integrity of the program depends on the producers (farmers) and food handlers’ conscientious effort to produce quality meats, poultry, dairy products, fruits, and vegetables in harmony with our environment. Farmers that are caught using the USDA seal while knowingly violating the standards procedure can be penalized up to 10,000 for each offence.

The definition of organic food clearly states that products labelled “USDA Organic” are guaranteed under the guidelines of the Organic Foods Production Act to be produced without using any types of conventional fertilizers and pesticides and other environmentally unfriendly methods. The integrity of the program relies on the farmers and food handlers’ conscientious effort to produce quality meats, poultry, dairy, fruits and vegetables in harmony with our environment.

Organic Versus Natural

It is important to understand that the definition of “natural” food and definition of “organic” food is not the same thing. If something says “natural” it does not mean that the product has been produced in accordance with the “organic” specifications. The uses of terms such as natural, hormone-free and free-range do not guarantee that the product is “organic.” It is only when you see the USDA organic stamp that you know the product has met the USDA organic standards.

How To Identify Organic Food

Today, the easiest way on identifying organic food is to look for the “USDA Organic” food label. This label guarantees the consumers that the product they buy is organic and has been inspected by an authorized expert. The definition of organic food, as defined by the USDA, is that the product must be 95% or more organic. There are several strict guidelines that are outlined for the farmers and food handlers to follow when growing, preparing and processing the food products.

Organic Food Benefits

The environmentally friendly practices involved in growing organic food products enhances the overall health of our planet; our soil, plants, animals and people all benefit from our decision to “go organic”. Certified Organic guarantees that the product has been inspected by a private certification organization or non-profit agency that is approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The inspector evaluates and verifies that tall products labelled organic meet the definitions established by the USDA organic standards. It is important to be understood that the organic food definition is specific to how the food product is grown, processed and handled prior to its’ delivery to the consumer.