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It may seem strange to tell you to watch out for  organic food labels in a post on a health food blog.  But there’s a reason for this madness.  It’s all about those misleading labels.  Don’t believe the myth that just because something has an organic food label on it, the food is automatically healthy, good-for-you eating.

You see, the food industry watches the trends in buying, and they’re in business to make money, obviously.  So when they notice that foods that have organic food labels on them are becoming more popular, they want to slap that label on as many things as possible.

That’s not just in the regular grocery stores either.  There are a lot of foods in health food stores with that organic food label that are really nothing more than organic junk food.

Organic white flour is one example.  So the flour was grown organically, then all the nutrients stripped out of it in the process of making it white flour.  Presto!  Organic junk food.

Organic donuts and waffles?  Just because they have organic sugar and organic white flour, do you really believe they are healthy food?  Nope, organic junk food.  The best you can say is they’re a tad better than the non-organic variety, but that’s stretching it.

Look at the labels.  You want to buy whole foods.  Foods with as little processing as possible.  If the food is full of sugar and / or fat, or otherwise highly processed, chances are it’s just organic junk food.

And junk food isn’t healthy food, whether it’s organic or not.

Post from: Health Food Made Easy

Organic Junk Food

The USDA defines organic food like this:

“Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled ‘organic,’ a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too.”

Check For The Organic Label

There are various “shades” of organic when it comes to labels, and it can be confusing and misleading. A product labeled as “natural” for instance, is not the same thing as one labeled organic.

Only foods labeled “100% Organic” contain 100% organically produced ingredients.

If the label merely says “Organic”, that means only 95% of the ingredients listed must be organically grown. The remaining 5% must consist of substances on an approved National List.

If a product has at least 70% organic ingredients, it can have a label that says, “made with organic ingredients.” Usually there is a list of the organic ingredients included.

The USDA makes a point to re-emphasize that none of the foods with “organic” in the labeling may be produced using sewage sludge or ionizing radiation. Of course, none of the excluded methods such as those listed in the above USDA definition of organic food are allowed.

If you’re looking for organically grown food, it helps to understand how to define organic food and what the various labels mean so you know what you’re getting and if it’s worth what you’re paying for it.

Post from: Health Food Made Easy

Defining Organic Food

Organic Labels

For instance, labels saying “organic” don’t all mean the same thing. Organic produce is supposed to be grown without synthetic fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides. Organic meat and dairy are supposed to come from livestock that receives no antibiotics or added hormones, and have organic feed to eat. Also, organic products are never genetically engineered or irradiated.

This is good because farming organically promotes healthy soil and a healthy ecological system by keeping chemicals out of our air, earth and water.

But there are shades of organic at the grocery store. Here’s a few of the terms you’re likely to see on labels and what they mean:

• 100% Organic: Products that contain 100% organically produced ingredients.
• USDA Certified Organic: Products with this label only have to have 95% or more organic ingredients. The USDA National Organic Program approved a small amount of conventional ingredients because there is limited availability on comparable organic products.
• Made With Organic Ingredients: Yes, but how much? 70-95% must be organic ingredients. So while the majority of the product is made with organic ingredients, there’s a whole lot that isn’t.

More Going Green Labels

There are more labels that can help you choose the right products.

• All-Natural: These products are minimally processed and contain no artificial colors, flavors, preservatives or sweeteners. Next best thing to organic.
• Earth-Friendly: Products that are produced in such a way as to minimize any negative impact on the environment. Some good examples would include biodegradable, chemical-free, or made of recycled post-consumer waste types of products.
• Vegetarian: Foods with this label are made from plant sources such as fruits, grains, legumes and nuts. However, they can also contain egg and dairy products.
• Vegan: These products must have absolutely NO animal ingredients or by-products. That means no eggs, no dairy products, and not even honey are allowed.

These labels will help you choose foods and othe products that fit your lifestyle, and to know exactly what sort of products you are buying.

Look at the label, and Go Green!

Post from: Health Food Made Easy

Going Green In The Supermarket – What Do Those Labels Mean