Recently, I brought home a dozen of Eggland's Best Cage Free Eggs, and the hubby made a comment that the eggs didn't have the USDA organic seal. I was confused because I assumed "cage free" was also organic.
Even more, I was at Whole Foods and surprised that their raw chicken and beef didn't have the USDA organic seal. I believe the chicken was labeled having "no hormones added" and "air-chilled", and the beef was labeled being "grass fed". I also noticed that their 365 Everyday Value store-brand products came in both "natural" and "organic" varieties. It took me forever to make sure I was picking up organic frozen peas. Whole Foods was also selling "conventional" foods next to their organic counterparts. It was so confusing and made my shopping trip so much longer.
So with all the confusion, I decided to go to the USDA website to find out what the label means. So here's the low down:
- 100% USDA organic: must contain (excluding water and salt) only organically produced ingredients and processing aids
- USDA organic: must consist of at least 95% organically produced ingredients (excluding water and salt)
- Made with organic ingredients: contain at least 70% organic ingredients and list up to three of the organic ingredients or food groups on the principal display panel. Any less than 70% and product cannot be labeled organic.
- There are no restrictions on the use of other truthful labeling claims such as “no drugs or growth hormones used,” “free range,” or “sustainably harvested.”
- A civil penalty of up to $11,000 can be levied on any person who knowingly sells or labels as organic a product that is not produced.
- And this page says that 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.
So, I've come to the conclusion that:
- We'll still buy Dirty Dozen that are certified USDA organic.
- As for meat and meat products, I'd love for them to be certified USDA organic, but I'm ok also "truthful claims" like "cage-free" or "no hormones" from reputable brands like Eggland's Best and Whole Foods. Nevertheless, I should still read a company's website so that I know what their truthful claim really means.
- One last thing, I was at a local farmer's market and wanted to buy USDA organic. A vendor said that he doesn't use pesticides and practices sustainable farming, but didn't have the money to get USDA certified. So even if a local farm doesn't label their products "organic" doesn't necessary mean that they aren't.
Do you buy organic? Are you less or more confused now?
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We buy organic for certain kinds of produce, generally those kinds that do not have skins or have skin that you eat. But, that rule isn't hard and fast. And like you, we buy meats that seem humanely treated (free range, grass fed, etc.), though even there you have to be careful, too (I've heard stories of "cage free" eggs where the chickens are housed in crowded cages with access through a small door to a very small outside area and that can still be considered "cage free" since they can go outside if they like). And like you, I've also heard of smaller farming operations practicing organic farming without having the official USDA seal of approval.
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