Before you buy organic products, you need to know whether they are genuinely organic.
One of the best ways to find out is to look for the organic certification logos and the word "organic" on product labels.
Here are some guidelines on how to differentiate the labels according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) standards.
100% Organic:
The product has been made using pure organic ingredients. The manufacturer has also processed, packed, handled and transported the product in full compliance with the USDA standards for organic agriculture.
Organic:
This product contains at least 95 % organic ingredients (excluding water or salt). It is eligible for the organic label provided the remaining 5% of the ingredients are not commercially available in organic form, and not produced using specifically prohibited methods (i.e. irradiation).
Made with Organic Ingredients:
The product labeled "Made with organic ingredients" must contain between 70% - 95% organic ingredients, excluding water and salt. As many as three of the organic ingredients in the content may be listed on the front of the package
Product with less than 70% organic ingredients:
The label on this product will be allowed to list the organic items in the "ingredients" panel only, and the term "organic" may not be used anywhere else on the package.
One common misconception is that "natural" equals "organic". While "natural" usually indicates foods that have been minimally processed or without added artificial ingredients, it does not address the way that food is grown.
