·
Organic is only organic if it
say “100% Organic” on the label, otherwise it’s only partially organic. “Organic” indicates the food or other
agricultural product has been produced through approved methods. “Synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge,
irradiation, and genetic engineering may not be used” (United States Department
of Agriculture [USDA], 2014).
Ø 100% Organic – must be all organic
or use all organic ingredients (Mayo Clinic, 2011)
Ø Organic – products must be
at least 95% organic (Mayo Clinic, 2011)
Ø Made with organic
ingredients -
must contain at least 70% organic ingredients (Mayo Clinic, 2011)
·
Natural doesn’t always mean healthy. The U.S. Food and Drug Association (FDA) “has
not developed a definition for use of the term natural or its derivatives (FDA,
2015). The agency allows the term as long as the food item does not contain
added color, artificial flavors, or synthetic substances. The product could still contain large amounts
of sugar, fat, or sodium.
·
Gluten-free means a product
contains less than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten (FDA, 2015). Gluten in a protein naturally found in grains
including wheat, rye, barley, spelt, kamut, triticale and all hybrid varieties
of wheat. For people with celiac disease
it is necessary to eliminate gluten from their diet, but for others eliminating
gluten may lead to vitamin, mineral, and fiber deficiencies.
·
Fat-free, Low-fat,
Reduced-fat, Light
Ø “Fat-free foods must
have less than 0.5 gram of fat per serving.
Ø Low-fat foods must
have 3 grams of fat or less per serving.
Ø Reduced-fat foods
must have at least 25% less fat than regular versions of those foods.
Ø Light foods must have
either 1/3 fewer calories or 50% less fat” (WebMD, 2014).
·
Grass-fed - marketing claims
state ruminant animals (e.g., cattle, sheep, goats – these animals have four
compartments to their stomach; the largest section is the rumen) must be fed
grass and forage (e.g., hay with grass) with the exception of milk prior to
weaning (USDA, 2008). They cannot have
grain or grain byproducts, but they can receive vitamin and mineral
supplementation.
·
No Added Hormones or
Raised without Hormones is unnecessary on poultry, pork, and goat. “Federal regulations have never permitted
hormones or steroids in poultry, pork, or goat” (USDA, 2012).
·
Pasture-raised – the USDA does not
currently have a federal definition or guidelines for pasture raised products.
Manufacturers
are always trying to sell their products and often use deceptive advertising,
especially on the front label. It’s best
to check out the back of the label and read the list of ingredients. This will let you know exactly what is in the
product with the ingredients listed in order from highest to lowest. Next time you go grocery shopping you’ll be
armed with knowledge to make the healthiest food choice!
Mayo
Clinic. (2011). Organic foods: are they safer?
More nutritious?
Retrieved from: http:
mayoclinic.com/ health/organic-food/NU00255
United
States Department of Agriculture. (2014). What is organic?
Retrieved from: http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?template=TemplateA&navID=NationalOrganicProgram&leftNav=NationalOrganicProgram&page=NOPNationalOrganicProgramHome&acct=AMSPW
United
States Department of Agriculture. (2008). Grass fed marketing
claims. Retrieved from: http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams. fetchTemplateData.dotemplate=TemplateN&rightNav1=GrassFedMarketingClaimStandards&topNav=&leftNav=GradingCertificationandVerfication&page=GrassFedMarketingClaims&resultType=
United
States Department of Agriculture. (2012). National organic program.
Retrieved from: http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplate
Data.dotemplate=TemplateC&leftNav=NationalOrganicProgram&page=NOPConsumers&description=Consumers
US
Food and Drug Association. (2015). What is the meaning of ‘natural’ on
the label of food? Retrieved from: http://www.fda.gov/aboutfda/ transparency/basics/ucm214868.htm
US
Food and Drug Association. (2015). Gluten and food labeling: fda’s
Regulation of “gluten-free” claims.”
Retrieved from: http://www.fda.gov
/ Food/ GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation/ Allergens/ucm367654.htm
WebMD.
(2014). Low-fat diet; why fat-free isn’t trouble free. Retrieved from:
http://www.webmd.com/diet/low-fat-diet 