You may be familiar with organic food labels, or you may not. If this is your first deep-dive into organic products, you won’t be disappointed. We’re covering everything you need to know about organic labels; what they are, what they mean, and their importance. If this isn’t your first rodeo with organic products, use this guide as a refresher!
We believe that everyone has the right to be informed consumers. It feels good to understand your food labels, and have confidence that what you’re purchasing is contributing to the health of yourself, your family, and the planet.
Organic labels can be found worldwide, yet standards for organic labeling depend on the country they are certified in. In America, organic labeling is regulated by the USDA, or the United States Department of Agriculture. This branch governs organic labeling standards and conducts routine auditing to ensure compliance.
The USDA’s guidelines for organic labeling are extensive, strict, and require a fee for distributors to use the USDA organic stamp on their products. This stamp is a clear marker for consumers that a product has passed the regulatory testing in place by the USDA. This label allows products to be sold for higher price points due to their rigorous quality testing.
You now know what organic means, and how governs organic labeling, but when did the organic market really develop?
What we now know as the organic food market started from a general awareness in the 1970’s. This time period was one of environmentalism and activism. With so many individuals demanding transparency is how their food was cultivated, it created a boom in the selling of organic products.
However, this new and growing organic industry suffered due to a decentralized criteria for organic standards. At the time, there was no national approach to organic agriculture. While there was a general consensus among consumers from a philosophical standpoint surrounding food production, there were no legal guidelines. What guidelines were in place differed greatly from state to state.
In response, Congress passed the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) in 1990 to develop a national standard for organic food and production. OFPA mandated that, “the USDA develop regulations to explain the law to producers, handlers and certifiers.” OFPA also called for an advisory National Organic Standards Board to make recommendations regarding the substances that could be used in organic production and handling, and to help USDA write the regulations. As of 2002, these final rules and guidelines were implemented nationally. Other nations across the globe have since used this model to develop their own regulatory boards and regulations.
Organic is now a labeling term that indicates that food has been grown following the federal guidelines of the Organic Foods Production Act. The national standards also specify that, “any producers who sell over $5,000 annually in agricultural products and want to label their product “organic” must be certified by a USDA-accredited agency. Companies that process organic food must be certified, too.”
The guidelines that must be followed to label products as organic are extensive, and it can take months for a business or distributor to pass the rigorous compliance measures. The guidelines are as follows:
Produce can be called organic if it is, “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.” When any synthetic substances must be used in production, they must only be those approved by the USDA for health and safety. That list can be found here.
For organic meat products, “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.”
Processed, multi-ingredient products, have additional guidelines listed by the USDA. These 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.” Finally, no organic foods can be grown with genetically modified organisms.
For more details about organic standards and compliance, we recommend using the resources on the United States Department of Agriculture’s website. They have specific pages dedicated to the education of organic farming practices for consumers, farmers, and more. Start here.
You now have a basic understanding of what organic means and when the organic market took off, and how organic products are labeled, but why are organic products and organic agriculture so important?
There are numerous ways that organic agriculture benefits us, the planet, and wildlife, which is why it is such a valuable label. Organic agriculture directly benefits soil health and composition, water quality, animal welfare, human health, climate change, and more. It is one of the most sustainable ways to grow produce.
Organic farmers are trained and certified to utilize practices that maintain and improve fertility, soil structure and biodiversity, and reduce erosion, reduce the risks of human, animal, and environmental exposure to toxic materials, and fine-tune farming practices to meet local production conditions to satisfy local markets.
One of the main concerns organic standards aim to stabilize are the general health of soils. Other common farming methods are extremely stressful to soils, leaving them nutrient deficient and weak, causing a need for fertilizers to fill the gaps in order to produce a yield. Organic practices aim to preserve the biodiversity of soils, so they are able to be utilized for years to come. The USDA offers free resources to growers looking to begin their journey of organic farming. Their resources provide information about soil health, structure, and gentle farming methods to preserve soil health.
Organic standards also provide protections for agriculturally raised animals and wildlife. For animal products (beef, chicken, pork, dairy, etc.) to be labeled as organic, the living conditions of the animals must pass strict guidelines. 
These guidelines aim to improve the quality of life and health of animals used for food production. They also aim to protect human health. Animals raised organically cannot be subdued to any growth hormones, hormone replacements, or antibiotics of any kind. Animals given these substances can still be marketed and sold, but are forbidden to use the organic USDA seal.
The goal of these guidelines are to minimize animal suffering while preserving their quality for consumers. Organic livestock must be produced without genetic engineering, ionizing radiation, or sewage sludge. Meaning the diets of the animals must come from organic feed, including corn or soy. They also must be managed in a manner that conserves natural resources and biodiversity and overseen by a USDA National Organic Program authorized certifying agent, meeting all USDA organic regulations. Meaning, areas of land holding animals raised for food production must be left generally untouched to avoid erosion and soil degradation.
The natural behaviors of animals raised for food production are highly valued to preserve the integrity of the animals. These animals must have access to freely roam, have access to sunlight, be provided shelter and shade, have access to clean water, and have fresh air. USDA studies have shown animals raised with these settings pose less risk for disease, and show less signs of stress.
Further details about animal welfare and organic labeling can be viewed here.
An additional importance to organic agriculture is the health benefits they provide. Organic products have been shown to contain less contaminants, including pesticides, herbicides, synthetic fertilizers, and heavy metals. Some evidence suggests that organic foods when compared with conventionally grown foods, contain higher nutrient content. The best evidence of a significant increase is in certain types of flavonoids, which have antioxidant properties.
Omega-3 fatty acids are used by the body to support brain and nervous system function. Some studies suggest organically raised animals contain more omega-3’s, especially in dairy, eggs, and organic meats. Omega-3’s are considered a heart-healthy fat.
In terms of heavy metals, cadmium found naturally in soils, is detected in lower doses in organic products, especially grains, compared to conventional. In high doses, cadmium is toxic to the human body, and is accepted as being a carcinogen. Lower cadmium levels in organic grains may be related to the ban on synthetic fertilizers in organic farming.
Compared with conventionally grown produce, organically grown produce has lower detectable levels of pesticide residues. However, organic produce is not totally immune to pesticide residue. They may have residue due to airborne pesticide contamination, especially if grown in close proximity to conventional farms that use pesticides.
You now understand a wide range of benefits that organic farming and products support. So, how can you support organic farmers, farming practices, and become more involved?
There are a multitude of ways to become more involved in the organic movement. If you are a farmer yourself, utilizing the USDA’s free resources on organic farming methods and certifications is a great place to start. Whether you are a livestock or products farmer, or both, you will gain great knowledge via the USDA’s website.
Building connections with other farmers is a great way to share knowledge and tips. You can find organic farming groups on social media, or by searching local organizations in your area.
If you are an individual, supporting local farmers by purchasing their organic products is one of the best ways to show your solidarity. Farmers markets and co-ops in your area may be a great place to start, in addition to purchasing more organic items from your supermarket. Start by searching your local food directory.
Leave us a comment about your experience with organic food!
RESOURCES
History of Organic Farming in the United States – SARE
Organic 101: What the USDA Organic Label Means
Organic Livestock Requirements
Organic foods: Are they safer? More nutritious? – Mayo Clinic.
Local Food Directories: National Farmers Market Directory | Agricultural Marketing Service
