Health Coach Corner by Maria Hicks
Is my food really organic?
I try and buy most of my food organic but have you ever wondered if it’s really organic? In today’s blog, I’m going to share some tips with you. The USDA has established an organic certification program that requires all organic goods to meet strict government standards. These standards regulate how such foods are grown, handled and processed – and only products certified 95% or more organic can display the USDA sticker.
Are you looking for organic foods? It MUST have the USDA Organic seal. Otherwise, it may not really be organic.
Here’s the scoop:
“Organic” – products that are at least 95% organic – not counting added water or salt and must not contain added sulfites. Can proudly wear the USDA seal.
“Made with organic ingredients” – These are products that contain at least 70% organic ingredients. The organic seal can’t be used on these packages. But, the term “made with organic ingredients” may be used. For foods that contain less than 70% organic ingredients, the organic seal can’t be used on their packaging.
“Natural” – is not organic, don’t mistake the term “natural” for organic. Natural foods are not organic. They don’t contain additives or preservatives, but they can be grown with pesticides or genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) and are barely regulated.
