What Does
“Organic” Mean These Days?
Understanding
Organic Certification
Over the years the term Organic has evolved into
a more complex system than when it started. Products are labeled Organic
based on a percentage system – from 100% Organic ingredients
down to less than 70% Organic ingredients.
A common mistake
made by
“newbies” is to equate the word "natural" with
"organic". Organic identifies how food is grown.
“Natural” refers to foods that have been minimally
processed or contain no artificial ingredients.
“Natural” ingredients are usually grown with
pesticides and herbicides.
How
to tell if your products are
Authentically Organic
Look for the word
"Organic" on the product
label. Basic guidelines for different labels according to the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) are as follows:
100% Organic - Pure
organic ingredients processed, packed, handled and transported in full
compliance with the USDA standards for organic agriculture.
Organic - At
least 95% organic ingredients, provided the remaining 5% ingredients
are not commercially available in organic form and not produced using
specifically prohibited methods such as irradiation.
Made with Organic
Ingredients - Contains between 70% - 95%
organic
ingredients, listing up to 3 of them on the front of the package.
Less
than 70% Organic
Ingredients - The label will list the organic
items in the "ingredients" panel only and the term "Organic" may not be
used anywhere else on the package.
GMOs
Genetically-modified
foods (GMOs) are fast becoming a major threat to the well-being of
everyone on the planet. GMO seeds do not sprout - they are devitalized!
GMO foods are created from articially manipulating the DNA of natural
food and are designed to produce lifeless seeds.
Certified Organic
products are NOT allowed to contain GMO's.
You KNOW you are
eating safe, natural food by eating certified organic. See Top 10 Reasons to Support Organic.
Look
for the organic
certification logos. Here
are a few of the over 400 certifiers (government &
private).
Look
for labels that
identify products as
authentically certified by a recognized 3rd-party
certifying body who verifies the claims of
the producer and the marketer. You can be assured that the product is
produced according to the organic standards after it has been certified
by a
professional certifying body.
Organic
Certifiers of Ventura California (CCOF) verifies
all of Sun Star Organics’ organic products every
year. Sun Star Organics, Inc has been certified organic since 2007.
What
is Driving the Organic Movement?
Organic
certification is expensive and time-consuming. Why would anyone go to
the expense? What is the motivation behind growing organic food?
Some
growers and
marketers who believe in right livelihood honestly believe their
efforts make a difference to the current and future
condition of planet Earth. They are deeply connected to the Earth and
are willing to do what it takes to preserve it, no matter what the
cost. Supporting these growers supports a healthy, symbiotic
relationship with Earth.
What
does certification mean to you, the consumer?
Organic
certification gives you confidence that the money you spend on buying organic food is
truly organic and the food your family eats is vital and
life-giving. See Why Organic Certification Matters.