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What is Organic? 02/15/18 11:53:52 AM
WHAT IS ORGANIC?
Any product that is certified organic means
that the producer and/or processors have
been inspected by a third-party agency to
verify the organic integrity of their facilities
and procedures, and then certified by that
agency. Several certification agencies exist
across the country and they inspect to
ensure that: |
| Any product labeled organic in the U.S.
must also meet strict national standards.
Organic food must be produced without
the use of sewer-sludge fertilizers, most
synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, genetic
engineering (biotechnology), growth
hormones, irradiation and antibiotics.
All food product labeling must meet the
USDA "National Organic Program" standard
and approval before they can be used. | 1. No harmful chemicals or prohibited
substances have been used or applied
to the field for at least three years.
2. Documentation that their operations
follow strict standards to qualify
for certification.
3. They have kept detailed records of
their practices.
4. They used ecologically-friendly
methods and substances to improve the
soil and control pests and clean
processing facilities. | | Some products are labeled as made with
organic ingredients, Non-GMO, pesticide
free, antibiotic free, cage free, free range,
natural, naturally produced, or from
animals fed organically. These products are
not equivalent to certified organic products,
and may be produced in systems that fail to
meet many of the standards required for
organic certification.
Unless the product is produced in a system
that meets all requirements of the USDA
National Organic Program, and is certified by
an accredited third party organic certifier,
these products should not be considered organic. |
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