If a product carries the USDA Organic Seal, or if a food product even states " Organic " on the packaging, it must be certified organic. Four color seals and black-and-white seals are available. Changing the seal in any way is considered non-compliance according to National Organic Program policy section If a product is certified USDA organic, labeling is optional. But plenty of good reasons exist to choose organic labeling. Organic labels aren't just important for growers and handlers, but also for consumers.
The right organic label helps consumers understand the type of organic product they're purchasing and shows your product's commitment to healthy people and a healthy planet. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Regardless, the thrust is this: the results should cast doubt on any assertions that organic foods somehow have higher nutritional benefits than conventional foods.
One of the goals of organically grown and produced foods is to encourage environmentally friendly farming and growth practices, cycling of natural resources, and growing food without the need for harsh pesticides or chemical fertilizers. This makes many organic crops more volatile, but focuses on environmental sustainability as well as yield. Some studies have shown organic farms have a lower environmental impact than conventional ones. A sharp eye would note that this could be because organic yields tend to be lower and there are fewer organic farms in general.
At the same time, some practices, like irradiation, which minimize contaminants, are not part of the organic food production process, which is another factor to consider. The study had two things to say about contamination: That conventionally farmed meat and produce were more likely to be contaminated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria, but both had equal risk of being contaminated overall.
The Atlantic notes :. Quantifying that benefit is a contentious area and certainly worthy of more research. Obviously, whether organic foods taste better is a matter of, well, taste. Many people swear by the difference in organic eggs, dairy, meats and some produce.
The first step is to manage the farm in ways that reduce the need for chemicals. Soil tests tell a farmer where they need to add organic-approved nutrients to a field to make it healthier. Organic farmers may also plant smaller plots of different crops next to one another, and keep some land in a natural state or create habitat for beneficial pest-controlling animals and bugs like bats, birds, and predatory insects. They might be able to tackle the stubborn weed or pest with a naturally derived spray or powder, such as soaps, hot pepper sprays, or diatomaceous earth.
Most substances on the approved list also have restricted uses, like not using near animals, or only as a last resort. Even if a spray is naturally derived, a farmer still needs to use it with care. For instance, GMO Bt corn was made by inserting a gene from bacteria that produces its own pesticide into the corn, causing the plant to be poisonous to certain pests.
GMOs are strictly prohibited on organic farms, and that includes seeds and cloned animals. GMO ingredients also cannot be used in organic foods for any reason. Farms with non-organic neighbors can prevent cross-contamination by staggering their crop planting dates or using different varieties that pollinate at different times.
Organic farms also must have buffer strips between their farms and non-organic neighbors. This would be a game-changer for organic farms once the seeds are widely available! The researchers use traditional cross-breeding practices to develop these varieties, not GMO technology, so the new varieties can be used in certified organic farming. All of this—and so much more—is happening behind the scenes to bring you what you expect when you see that green USDA Organic seal!
Everyone—Even You! Organic Applies to Every Step: Farm to Shelf Every step in the organic food chain must be certified organic—farms, handlers, and processing plants. Contrary to popular belief, organic food relates back to agricultural production, not a specific nutrition- or health-related guideline. Foods can still be organic even if they're not labeled as such. Since the standard requires third-party verification, there's a cost associated with the certification process.
Food companies must consistently provide back-up documentation in order to use the "USDA Organic" seal. That makes it less desirable to smaller or newer brands that use organic production practices , but don't want to incur the costs of verification.
Despite controversial headlines about this labeling claim, the agricultural practice used to produce food does not determine how nutritious it is for you, nor does it directly impact your state of health.
Case in point: Organic cane sugar is still sugar. The nutrients you'll find within the food are what, over time, predominantly affect your health — not the growing methods used to make it. Also, organic products will cost more than their non-organic counterparts, which is a critical consideration for most of us on a budget. There's also the question of whether or not genetically modifying crops are harmful to health.
But to date, there's no substantial data to imply that GMO crops available on the consumer market pose a direct risk. Short answer? Growing methods do not universally make foods better or worse for you nutritionally.
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