Natural vs Organic: Know your labels

Now more than ever, people at the grocery store are leaning towards products that are labeled "natural" or "organic." While this is not a problem, many consumers don't really know what these terms mean. Both are words that can have different definitions depending on who you ask. Before making decisions about what is the best choice for your wants and needs as a consumer, look into the FDA's regulations on labeling, you might be surprised at what you find.


"Natural" is defined by the FDA as having minimal processing and no additives. This sounds pretty similar to what you think organic is, right? Actually, the term natural (in the case of requirements to put this label on a food product) has nothing to do with how the product was produced. If a product is minimally processed and there are no additives AFTER harvest, it is considered a natural food. A chicken, cow, vegetable, etc can be produced using conventional methods and still be labeled as natural as long as there were no additives and little processing after harvest.


"Organic" on the other hand refers not only to the food you are buying, but the way in which it was produced. In order to be certified organic, a product must have been produced, harvested, and handled in a way that complies with organic farming methods that use recycling and promote biodiversity. However, also know that in order to be considered an "organic" producer or product, only 95% of your production methods or inputs must be organic. There is a 5% margin in which those producers can use "conventional" farming inputs or products.


Also, many people assume that if they are buying organic or natural animal products, those animals were raised outside or in a "natural" environment. This is simply not the case. Certain farmers that label their products natural or organic may choose to raise their animals in a natural setting, but this is not a requirement for labeling. For organic, as long as the animal is fed 95% organic feed stuffs, the product produced by that animal is labeled organic. That says nothing about the way in which the animal spent it's days. In the case of natural, as I stated before, the only qualifications to label a food natural have to do with post-harvest procedures. If you are looking to purchase an animal product from an animal that was raised outside, look for the "free range" label. Even "cage free" leaves a lot of room for interpretation. They can be raised in confinement without cages, so free range is the best bet when looking for that type of product.


Wether or not you are choosing to buy these products, my point here is to understand what exactly the labels on food mean. Often consumers make assumptions about labels, which may or may not be true. But look into these things before you make the choice to spend more of your money on these products. I am not against organic or natural products, I have many of them in my own refrigerator. Just make sure that you are, in fact, getting what you are willing to spend some extra money on. Wether that be natural, organic, free range, or just the best bargain at the grocery store- be an informed consumer.