What a 100% Organic Food Label Means

What does it mean when that fruit or vegetable you're looking at says "ORGANIC?" If you're not too sure, don't feel alone.


As usual, it is important to read the product label carefully to understand what it is not saying.

Here are some facts to help you know what type of "organic product" you're buying:

Source: http://ams.usda.gov/nop/prodhandlers/labeltable.htm

1. Your product is 100% organic.

a. It must be 100% organic, not including water or salt.

b. The certifying agent must be listed on the product. The "USDA organic" seal can also be used if the agency works with the USDA.

c. An ingredient list must show on the product, if it is more than one ingredient.

2. What if the product claims to be "organic?"

a. It must have at least 95% organic ingredients, not including water and salt.

b. The product cannot contain sulfites.

c. Up to 5% of the product can be nonorganic.

d. The certifying agent must be listed. The "USDA organic" seal can also be used if the agency works with the USDA.

3. The product says, "made with organic ingredients." What does that mean?

a. The product must be at least 70% organic.

b. It cannot contain sulfites.

c. Up to 30% of the product can be nonorganic.

d. The label must list the organic ingredients as "organic" when other organic labeling is shown.

e. It must list the certifying agent but cannot use the "USDA organic" seal.

4. What if the product claims to have some organic ingredients?

a. The product can contain less than 70% organic ingredients.

b. It can have over 30% nonorganic ingredients.

c. The label must list the organic ingredients as "organic" when other organic labeling is shown.

d. The label cannot have the "USDA organic" seal, the certifying agency or any other reference to organic contents.

My take: Buy 100% organic when you can. If you are buying nonorganic or partially organic food products, make sure you wash the product as necessary.

For example "The Dirty Dozen" are known to be sprayed with high pesticides. The list includes:

--Apples
--Celery
--Cherries
--Cucumbers
--Grapes
--Hot Peppers
--Nectarines
--Peaches
--Potatoes
--Spinach
--Strawberries
--Sweet Bell Peppers

Eat as many whole, natural foods with one ingredient as you can.

-Catherine Ebeling and Mike Geary are co-authors of the popular ebook, Fat-Burning Kitchen, which shows you how to totally revamp your kitchen to make your body a fat-burning machine!

Mark Dilworth, BA, PES



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About Mark

Hi, I'm Mark Dilworth, Nutritionist, Dietary Strategies Specialist, Nutrition for Metabolic Health Specialist and Lifestyle Weight Management Specialist. Since 2006, I have helped thousands of clients and readers make lifestyle habit changes which includes body transformation and ideal body weight.