To continue with Organics Week, here is a brief lesson on the labeling of organic products:
You may have seen this seal before, but do you know what it means? You may assume it means the product you are about to consume is completely organic, but what else does the package say? Foods certified with ”USDA Organic” seal fall into several categories, depending on their contents. In addition to the USDA Organic seal, the label of the package must contain specific language in reference to its contents.
You may also see products with the following labels on their packaging:
“100% Organic” must contain 100 percent organically produce ingredients, not counting added water and salt
“Organic” must contain 95 percent organic ingredients, not counting added and water and salt. Must not contain sulfites. May contain up to 5% non-organically produced ingredients which are not available in commercial form.
“Made with Organic Ingredients” or similar statements must contain 70 percent organic ingredients, not counting added water and salt. Must not contain added sulfites, except wine may contain added sulfur dioxide. May contain up to 30% non-organically produced agricultural ingredients and/or other substances including yeast.
Anything containing less than 70% organic ingredients may not show the USDA Organic seal. For more information on Organic Certification, click here to visit the USDA website.
If you are seeking out organic food, be sure to read the packaging carefully. It is always Sweet to be an informed consumer.
