What does the term organic really mean?

Internationally, the term and implementation of organic practices will vary from country-to-country. However, we can look to the United States and the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) as a fantastic case study into how standards and labeling criteria are set and regulated. As you will see, their criteria is something that has been honed over time to become a world-class example in informing consumers and giving them the power to purchase with an educated grasp as to what they are buying and consuming.

Organic at a glance

At the highest level, the term organic is a label that identifies products produced under the authority of a set of criteria by a governing authority. Guidelines for organic production utilise materials and practices that protect the ecological ‘whole’ during farming and the preparation of production. Again while the exact specifications as to what qualifies as organic produce will vary, in general, fruit and vegetables are grown without the use of synthetic pesticides, sewage sludge, synthetic fertilizers, genetically modified organisms, bioengineering, or ionizing radiation.

When referencing organic, eggs, meat and dairy animals, they are not given antibiotics or growth hormones. Note that when you are looking to purchase things like cosmetics, cleaning products, linens, etc. any reference to organic it is referring not only to the product itself but how the produce or ingredients were grown and processed.

In the US, for a product to be deemed organic and then labeled as such, at least 95% of the ingredients must be categorised as organic. For an item to be stated as “made with organic ingredients, 70% of the ingredients used must be organic.

Organic versus natural

Consumers can easily be taken in by a label that uses the word ‘natural’ as an indication as to its contents being ethically grown, sourced and produced. It is critical to mention that neither the FDA nor the USDA has rules or regulations for products labeled ‘natural’; this means that all manner of ingredients can be added to seemingly healthily branded products that actually contain things like heavily processed ingredients. In short, you need to really read the label closely to make sure that an item meets your personal criteria for eating healthy. Why would farmers and manufacturers not want to go the extra mile to make things organic? Cost is the biggest overriding factor as there is less involved to meet regulations around the term than organic.

Organic in the simplest terms

Soil checks – Again, looking to the US, produce is allowed to be called organic if it’s certified to have grown on soil that had no prohibited substances applied for three years prior to harvest. Prohibited substances include most synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. In instances when a grower has to use a synthetic substance to achieve a specific purpose, the substance must first be approved according to criteria that examine its effects on human health and the environment.1

Organic meats and better lives for animals – As for organic meat, regulations require that animals are raised in living conditions accommodating their natural behaviors (like the ability to graze on pasture), fed 100% organic feed and forage, and not administered antibiotics or hormones.1

Processed food and the know what to watch for – When it comes to processed, multi-ingredient foods, the USDA organic standards specify additional considerations. Regulations prohibit organically processed foods from containing artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors and require that their ingredients are organic, with some minor exceptions. For example, processed organic foods may contain some approved non-agricultural ingredients, like enzymes in yogurt, pectin in fruit jams, or baking soda in baked goods.1

Is buying organic worth it?

Organic food is often much more expensive than traditionally grown and processed products. So, is it worth it when it can uptick your weekly grocery bill? According to the highly respected Mayo Clinic, some data shows possible health benefits of organic foods when compared with foods grown using conventional processes. To date though, there is only limited evidence/information as to the concrete benefits of organic foods. However, that is not to say there is no data at all to support its benefits. (More information as to their findings can be found here.) Anecdotally, many say that organic foods are worth the extra costs because they simply taste better. One way to avoid the pricing mark-ups from supermarkets is to grow your own garden with organic practices or look to your local farmers markets who often have better prices for organic items than what you will find in a bricks and mortar store.