Understanding "ORGANIC" Food Labels

When my husband and I first went shopping for organic / natural foods, we definitely did not know what we were doing. If only we knew what we know now! It can be confusing at times when something on the shelf at a grocery store will say it is Organic... and yet, it does not have perhaps the USDA Organic stamp on the packaging. So... what does that mean?

1. USDA LABEL

In order to be a certified organic food producer, USDA requires all American growers or food processors, if labeling their food organic, their products must be all or at least 95% organic in order to use the official USDA organic label.

The food producers may not use the following materials or practices:

• Toxic Synthetic Pesticides and Fertilizers
• Sewage Sludge
• Fresh Manure
• Irradiation

2. GENERAL ORGANIC FOOD LABEL INFO :

• 100% organic
  All ingredients are organic.
• Organic
  At least 95% of ingredients are organic
• Made with Organic Ingredients
  At least 70 percent of ingredients are organic
• Organic label on information panel, but not on front of the packaging
  Less than 70% of ingredients are organic

For more tips on shopping organic foods for yourself and especially your little ones, check out Petit Appetit.

You can also find more helpful label information at From My Motorhome to Yours.