Today, people are becoming more health conscious and concerned about the environment. Buying organic is seen as a great step, but what does that word actually mean on the label. The first attempt to set standards for organic foods was the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990. The department created the National Organic Standards Board to develop a list of substances that could be used in organic production and handling. Eventually recommendations were presented that started the National Organic Program.
After a series of meetings, which included input from the public, more recommendations were added. Eventually these were solidified into one program on October 21, 2002. These standards must be followed by all countries that import foodstuffs, as well as U.S. growers. In order to label their products as organic, producers have to be certified by a USDA-accredited certifying agent. These agents will visit the farm in question to determine if all the applicable rules have been followed. All products that use organic ingredients have on the label the name and address of the certifying agent. These standards are helping to create healthy farmland and the environment as a whole. In turn, the health of people is being aided. This is contributing to a healthy ecological cycle of existence.
Organic refers more to how the food is grown than the actual food products themselves. Organic farmers tend to use natural methods for weed and pest controls. They enrich the soil by using mulch and organic fertilizers. Organic fertilizers contain nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, trace minerals, enzymes, vitamins as well as other organic matter. In addition, beneficial predators and microorganisms are released and encouraged to grow. Weed management is carried out through crop selection and rotation, clean seeds and farm equipment. Sewage sludge, synthetic pesticides, herbicides and fungicides are prohibited. Farmers must keep records to show that they are continuing to use and improve practices for the health of the soil.
Animals in organic farms are not given antibiotics unless they require them for an infection. Growth hormones are not permitted either. This applies to meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products. The animals are typically free to roam the fields and eat organic grasses and grains. The soil and water is regularly tested to make sure it is free from contaminants. The feed given to them is free from genetically engineered product, pesticides, chemicals and animal and poultry by-products.
Organic means that it was produced without using most conventional products such as chemical or artificial fertilizers, bioengineering, or irradiation. These products can carry the USDA Organic Seal if they are 100 percent certified organic or contain at least 95 percent organic ingredients. Other words such as 'natural' or 'free-range' can be used on packaging but that does not imply organic by the definition of the USDA. Other products that have between 70 and 95 percent organic ingredients can use 'Made with organic ingredients' on the label. If a product has less than 70 percent organic ingredients, it may list the ingredients in the ingredient list but not on the front panel.
