100% natural can equal 0% organic
When it comes to food and other consumer products, many people tend to think "100% natural" and "100% organic" mean the same thing. Some believe that "organic" is just a marketing term, while "natural" means that a product has government certification.
The Shelton Group, a market research firm that monitors sustainable and organic industry, found that 31 percent of respondents to its consumer survey thought the phrase "100% natural" was a better indicator of a "green" pedigree than the phrase "100% organic."
That's a bit troubling, speaking as someone who grows and promotes organic food.
Advocates for the organic industry have expressed concern that capitalizing on consumers' misunderstanding of labeling will diminish organic sales at a time when demand is already stalled because of the recession.
To be clear, organics are produced without chemical herbicides and pesticides, antibiotics, genetically modified organisms, irradiation, growth hormones or synthetic fertilizers (including the sewage sludge that was mentioned in my previous post). Organic certification is managed by the Department of Agriculture and an array of third-party accreditors.
"Natural," on the other hand, means... whatever the producer or seller wants it to mean. There is little restriction on the use of the term "natural," except that products labeled "natural" cannot be processed with artificial colors, preservatives or synthetic substances. Note that this is in regard to processing, not raising or growing.
So soybeans sprayed with embryonic cell-destroying RoundUp, or animals fed GMO corn and injected with antibiotics, can be labeled as "100% natural," just as long as Red #40 and sodium benzoate don't get thrown into the mix at the processing facility.
One way to clear up the confusion over labeling would be to use the term "minimally processed" in place of "natural." Doing so would prevent products that contain high fructose corn syrup, hyrdogenated oils, autolyzed proteins and other additives from being considered "100% natural."
The FDA has said that current labeling standards aren't being abused and that there are higher priorities to be dealt with other than food labeling.
The Shelton Group, a market research firm that monitors sustainable and organic industry, found that 31 percent of respondents to its consumer survey thought the phrase "100% natural" was a better indicator of a "green" pedigree than the phrase "100% organic."That's a bit troubling, speaking as someone who grows and promotes organic food.
Advocates for the organic industry have expressed concern that capitalizing on consumers' misunderstanding of labeling will diminish organic sales at a time when demand is already stalled because of the recession.
To be clear, organics are produced without chemical herbicides and pesticides, antibiotics, genetically modified organisms, irradiation, growth hormones or synthetic fertilizers (including the sewage sludge that was mentioned in my previous post). Organic certification is managed by the Department of Agriculture and an array of third-party accreditors.
"Natural," on the other hand, means... whatever the producer or seller wants it to mean. There is little restriction on the use of the term "natural," except that products labeled "natural" cannot be processed with artificial colors, preservatives or synthetic substances. Note that this is in regard to processing, not raising or growing.
So soybeans sprayed with embryonic cell-destroying RoundUp, or animals fed GMO corn and injected with antibiotics, can be labeled as "100% natural," just as long as Red #40 and sodium benzoate don't get thrown into the mix at the processing facility.
One way to clear up the confusion over labeling would be to use the term "minimally processed" in place of "natural." Doing so would prevent products that contain high fructose corn syrup, hyrdogenated oils, autolyzed proteins and other additives from being considered "100% natural."
The FDA has said that current labeling standards aren't being abused and that there are higher priorities to be dealt with other than food labeling.
posted by mr damon at
8:57 PM
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