All About Organic Foods

You may buy organic foods because you think they are healthier for you. Or, you may buy them because you think they are better for the environment.

At least, you no longer have to worry whether the organic foods you buy are really organic. Before federal standards were applied, organic was a term used freely, with few rules on when and how it could be applied. Organic now can be used only under certain, specific conditions.

What is organic?

Organic foods are those grown or raised with farming methods that protect the soil, air and water. Organic farming methods include rotating crops, rotating land for animal grazing, planting cover crops and recycling plant and animal waste. Organic methods keep at a minimum any pollution of the natural environment.

Under U.S. Department of Agriculture standards, a food can be certified organic if it is produced following certain guidelines. An organic crop, for instance, is one that has been grown on land that has had no prohibited substances (pesticides, herbicides) applied to it for at least three years. Organic cropland cannot use genetic engineering or sewage sludge. A farmer can control pests or weeds using only certain crop management methods.

Livestock can be certified organic if they have been raised on organic feed for a specific amount of time. Farmers cannot give the animals hormones or antibiotics, but vaccines are permitted to keep the animals healthy. Organically raised animals must be able to spend time outdoors.

Is organic healthier?

Although many people buy organic foods because they believe these foods are healthier, growing conditions can't change the nutrition value of a food. A tomato grown organically will have the same vitamins and minerals found in a non-organic tomato.

Organic foods, however, are often safer than non-organic foods. Non-organic fruits and vegetables may contain pesticide residues. Non-organic meat, poultry and milk may contain hormones and other medications used to help the animals grow more quickly or produce more milk.

Organic foods also differ from non-organic foods in price. Organics are usually more expensive because the farmer or rancher must follow stricter growing, production and distribution standards.

The organic label

Certified organic foods can now carry a USDA organic label. This is what the organic designation means:

• "100 percent organic." The food contains only organic ingredients and nothing else. This food can carry the USDA organic label.

• "Organic." The food must contain at least 95 percent organic ingredients. This food also can carry the USDA organic label.

• "Made with organic ingredients." This food must contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients. The product's display label can list the organic ingredients. This food cannot carry the USDA organic label.

Foods that contain less than 70 percent organic ingredients cannot use the word organic in their display, except to show the organic ingredients in the ingredient list.

Beware of other terms

Foods that carry the word organic must follow USDA guidelines, but other frequently used food terms aren't regulated by the USDA. You can find foods labeled natural or hormone-free or free-range, but these terms may or may not truthfully describe a food product. A natural food, for instance, has not been certified as natural.