Certified Organic - What Does it Really Mean?

Organic food and certified organic products are said to be healthier, more natural options for consumers, but how do you know that organic food is truly organic let alone be "certified"?

In most countries, the organic industry is strictly regulated by a number of rules and guidelines. These standards are often put in place by government agencies and enforced by a variety of local organizations.

Before a food can display the organic label, the farmer must become certified through a rigorous, often time-consuming process.

What it Takes to be Certified Organic

The standards governing the production of organic food regulate everything from seeds and planting to production and packaging. These strict policies and requirements ensure that the consumer receives products that deserve to bear the organic label.

Only foods containing at least 95% organic ingredients or cultivated with entirely organic methods can use the organic label, and only after following the necessary procedures.

Farmers desiring organic certification must:

Submit yearly plans detailing every procedure involved in farming, including seed origins, planting practices and locations, cultivation techniques, harvesting processes, and even storage and transporting methods.

Pay an inspection and certification fee each year, ranging from a few hundred dollars to several thousand depending on the size of the farm.

Complete extensive paperwork to document the land’s history and previous usage, as well as the present conditions and purposes.

Keep daily records to journal all activities regarding farm operation and cultivation.

Undergo an annual on-site inspection to ensure all operations and record keeping comply to the governing regulations.

Certified organic farmers are expected to closely follow all regulations and guidelines at all times. To guarantee the best products for consumers, random tests and inspections are conducted regularly. Farmers with organic certification must always be ready for unexpected visits or requests for soil or water examination.

What to Expect From Certified Organic Food

Foods that have earned a certification have been carefully cultivated according to these strict regulations!

These foods must be:

Grown and processed without the aid of chemicals, including standard fertilizers and pesticides

Free of genetically modified ingredients

Animals used for organic food production are raised without hormones or feed additives

The Problem With Genetically Modified Food

About 70% of the food currently on the supermarket shelves is genetically modified or contains GM ingredients. Many consumers are not even aware of the potential hazards of GM foods. Genetically modified foods are inserted with specific genes to produce a new strain of a product, from vegetables to animals. These modifications and alterations can advance the farming industry tremendously, but can have many adverse results as well.

Genetically modified food:

Could increase food allergies

Often contains harmful toxins from selective breeding against pesticides and chemicals

May eventually eliminate some traditional, pure species of plants and animals

GM food testing is harmful to plants, animals, and the environment, even killing sheep, rats, and plant life in some cases.

Is Organic Food Better?

While there are no official reports that prove that organic products are truly superior to traditional, commercially produced foods, it only requires a little knowledge concerning the meaning of food being certified to see why these foods are a much wiser choice.

Organic food is natural; free of chemicals, genetically modified ingredients, and other additives that can have adverse effects on humans as well as the environment. The nutrients and vitamins that are essential to a healthy diet can be found in certified foods. These foods are cultivated using methods that don’t strip food of these natural minerals.

Because of the strict regulations governing the production of organic food and the even stricter requirements to display the certified organic label, you can feel comfortable buying organic food and knowing you are benefiting yourself, your family, and your planet.

Return To Organic Food Guide Home