If you are looking to start a healthy, nutritious diet, chances are that you have looked into primarily eating organic food. Not only can organic food protect you from exposure to harsh chemicals, but many people would also argue that organic food is better for the environment as well. However, what about natural foods In fact, there is a great difference between natural and organic foods and beverages.
The main difference between natural and organic food is that organic is a label recognized-and regulated-by the United States’ Department of Agriculture, or USDA. On the other hand, natural technically does not mean anything. In actuality, a food producer or labeling company can place the word natural on anything, no matter if it is produced organically or with lots of chemicals.
However, there is a group that is attempting to regulate the use of the term natural. While natural does imply freedom from harsh chemicals, you should always turn to products labeled with the USDA’s organic seal rather than ones that solely list themselves as natural if you are concerned with only eating all natural foods.
The USDA places several different labels on food produced organically so that it can encompass the different levels of commitment to organic produce. A label stating USDA 100% Organic must truly contain only organic items. A label that reads USDA Organic only has 95% pure ingredients. Some items may carry a label that says, Made with Organic Ingredients. This means that the product is made with at least 70% organic ingredients. While it will not carry a seal like the others, the label is allowed to list three organic items on the front.
In some cases, you may notice a label that says, Certified Naturally Grown. This is reserved for small farms that follow the USDA’s organic guidelines but do not seek regulation from the USDA itself.
Tags: food producer, foods and beverages, harsh chemicals, labeling company, nutritious diet, organic guidelines, organic ingredients, united states department, united states department of agriculture, usda organic