People often ask if organic standards are cruel to animals because a sick animal isn't treated with antibiotics.
That's simply not true!.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has put in place a set of national standards that food labeled "organic" must meet, whether it is grown in the United States or imported from other countries. USDA's National Organic Program regulates the standards for any farm, wild crop harvesting, or handling operation that wants to sell an agricultural product as organically produced. After October 21, 2002, when you buy food labeled "organic," you can be sure that it was produced using the highest organic production and handling standards in the world. The National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (NSAIS) describes organic farm certification and the National Organic Program this way:
Under the National Organic Program (NOP) organic standards, treating sick animals with antibiotics and returning them to the herd is subject to strict regulations to maintain the integrity of organic farming and ensure animal welfare. Here is a summary of the procedures:
It's essential for organic livestock producers to follow these procedures carefully to maintain the organic integrity of their operation. The goal is to provide appropriate care for sick animals while upholding the principles of organic agriculture, including animal welfare and organic practices.
You must look at package labels and watch
for signs in the supermarket. Along with the national organic standards,
USDA developed strict labeling rules to help consumers know the exact organic
content of the food they buy. The USDA Organic
seal also tells you
that a product is at least 95 percent organic.
Single-ingredient foods
Look for the word "organic" and a small sticker version of the USDA Organic seal on vegetables or pieces of fruit. Or they may appear on the sign above the organic produce display.
The word "organic" and the seal may also appear on packages of meat, cartons of milk or eggs, cheese, and other single-ingredient foods.
Foods with more than one ingredient
The following photo shows examples of the labels that may be used on a wide variety of products that use organic ingredients.
Click photo of follow this link for larger image of cereal boxes.
The sample cereal boxes show the four labeling categories. From left: cereal with 100 percent organic ingredients; cereal with 95-100 percent organic ingredients; cereal made with at least 70 percent organic ingredients; and cereal with less than 70 percent organic ingredients. Products with less than 70 percent organic ingredients may list specific organically produced ingredients on the side panel of the package, but may not make any organic claims on the front of the package. Look for the name and address of the Government-approved certifier on all packaged products that contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients.
No. The use of the seal is voluntary.
People who sell or label a product "organic" when they know it does not meet USDA standards can be fined up to $10,000 for each violation.
No. Natural and organic are not interchangeable. Other truthful claims, such as free-range , hormone-free, and natural, can still appear on food labels. However, don't confuse these terms with "organic." Only food labeled "organic" has been certified as meeting USDA organic standards.
For more detailed information on the USDA organic standards, visit the USDA National Organic Program website or call the National Organic Program at 202-720-3252, or write USDA-AMS-TM-NOP, Room 4008 S. Bldg., Ag Stop 0268, 1400 Independence, SW, Washington, DC 20250.
These requirements do not preempt Food and Drug Administration; USDA, Food
Safety and Inspection Service; or the Bureau
of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms
labeling regulations or label approval
requirements.
Letter Codes for the information below indicate position on package and are
defined as follows:
PDP
: Principal Display Panel
IP
: Information Panel
IS
: Ingredients Statement
OP
: Any Other Panel
If you want to claim: | "100 percent Organic" (or similar statement) |
Your product: | Must contain 100 percent organically produced ingredients, not counting added water and salt. |
Your label MUST: | Show an ingredient statement when the
product consists of more than one ingredient. Show below the name and address of the handler (bottler, distributor, importer, manufacturer, packer, processor, etc.) of the finished product, the statement:
|
Your label MAY show: | The term "100 percent organic" to modify
the product name. (PDP/IP/OP) The term, "organic" to identify the organic ingredients 1 . Water and salt included as ingredients must not be identified as organic. (IS) The USDA organic seal and/or certifying agent seal(s). (PDP/OP) The certifying agent business/Internet address or telephone number. (IP) |
Your label MUST NOT show: | Not applicable |
Must not contain added sulfites.
May contain up to 5% of:
List the organic ingredients as "organic" when other organic labeling is shown. 1 Water and salt included as ingredients must not be identified as organic. (IS)
Show below the name and address of the handler (bottler, distributor, importer, manufacturer, packer, processor, etc.) of the finished product, the statement:
"Certified organic by ___" or similar phrase, followed by the name of the Certifying Agent. Certifying Agent seals may not be used to satisfy this requirement. (IP)
"X% organic" or "X% organic ingredients." (PDP/IP/OP)
The USDA Organic seal and/or certifying agent seal(s). (PDP/OP)
The certifying agent business/Internet address or telephone number. (IP)
Must not contain added sulfites; except that, wine may contain added sulfur dioxide in accordance with 7 CFR 205.605.
May contain up to 30% of:
List the organic ingredients as "organic" when other organic labeling is shown. 1 Water and salt included as ingredients must not be identified as organic. (IS)
Show below the name and address of the handler (bottler, distributor, importer, manufacturer, packer, processor, etc.) of the finished product, the statement:
"Certified organic by ___" or similar phrase, followed by the name of the Certifying Agent. Certifying Agent seals may not be used to satisfy this requirement. (IP)
"X% organic" or "X% organic ingredients." (PDP/IP/OP)
The certifying agent seal(s). (PDP/OP)
The certifying agent business/Internet address or telephone number. (IP)
Your product:
May contain less than 70% organic ingredients, not counting added water and salt.
May contain over 30% of:
Show an ingredient statement when the word organic is used.
Identify organic ingredients as "organic" in the ingredients statement 1 when % organic is displayed. Water and salt included as ingredients must not be identified as organic. (IS)
"X% organic ingredients" when organically produced ingredients are identified in the ingredient statement. (IP)
The USDA Organic seal.
The certifying agent seal.
1 To identify an ingredient as organically produced, in the ingredients statement, use the word, "organic" in conjunction with the name of the ingredient, or an asterisk or other reference mark which is defined below the ingredient statement.
Most references are included above within the passages, a few are added here separately:
Water bath canner with a jar rack
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Canning scoop (this one is PERFECT)
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