What Does "Organic" Really Mean?

Do you often find yourself standing in an aisle at the market staring at products that say "Organic", "All Natural", "Made with Natural Ingredients", "Cage-Free", "Free-Roaming", etc. and wondering what it all really means? I know I do. I often wonder, are the "Cage-free" eggs the same as the "All Natural" eggs? If they say they are free of hormones and are free roaming does that also mean they are feed an organic diet? What really are the USDA organic standards?

Let's examine.

The current USDA Certified Organic standards are pretty strict. The problem that has been coming up recently in the news, is that some companies are trying to push bills that will lower the standards.

Any product carrying the USDA Certified Organic seal must contain at least 95% organic ingredients and be produced without antibiotics, hormones, genetic engineering, radiation or synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.

So that you are sure you are getting a certified organic product, look for the little green seal that says "USDA Organic".

So what's the difference between organic and all the rest?

All Natural or Natural - According to the USDA, products, especially food, can only be labeled "All Natural" or "Natural" if they contain no artificial ingredients or added colors and are minimally processed. However, this does not mean the product is organic and it also means that animal products that contain artificial hormones and genetically modified products can still be labeled "Natural".

Cage-free or Free-Roaming - These two titles can mean completely different things. A "Cage-Free" chicken simply means that the chickens are not kept in small wire cages. They are allowed in some cases to roam around a shed. A "Free-Roaming" or "Free-Range" chicken stated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture must be allowed access to the outside. Though many feel both of these scenarios are better for the chicken, it still does not mean the chickens or the eggs they produce are organic. For an animal product to be organic it must be feed an organic diet and not be given artificial hormones, antibiotics and so forth.

I guess I could really take this article on and on, regarding what every definition means. But to be safe, if you really want to start moving towards a more organic lifestyle. Look for the USDA Certified Organic seal on the products and foods you buy. Even though something says "Organic", "All Natural" and so on, it does not mean it has met those standards unless it carries the seal. Unfortunately though, many of the smaller organic companies can not necessarily afford the USDA Certification. And many of these companies operate and produce their products to that standard and sometimes higher than the standard. That's when you need to do your research. There are countless websites on the Internet where you can find help and information.

If you want to keep up on changes to the standards or read more about what it means to be organic. Subscribe to the Organic Consumers Association newsletter. It's a great resource on all things organic including a guide to shopping.