Important Things you Need to Know-What does Local, Natural and Organic Food Mean?

Today people are increasingly concerned with the origin of their food, and are more interested in organic food that is raised using natural resources. Therefore, there is a rise in demand for such food. You must have seen labels on food packages, so what do they mean? Do you really get what you think when you buy all natural organic beef or granola bars? And how local is the “Local”?. Let’s have a close look at some important facts about local, organic and natural food labels.

What’s the legal definition of “natural” when it comes to food?

Currently there’s no government regulation that clearly defines the word “natural” for any food. Even though food labels for most foods are regulated, the word “natural” is still undefined. So the only inference you can derive from this word is that there’s nothing synthetic or artificial in it.

The world “natural” is not legally defined at all in the regulations. Almost all food items are processed in some way or the other. So how can you say which food is more natural than other? Are chemicals derived from various compounds found in natural? Is beet juice natural if it’s squeezed out of the beet? Well, these are hypothetical question, and it can sometimes get rather heady.

So, does that mean that anything can be labeled as “natural”?

Definitely, there are many lawsuits against top processed food companies that dubiously claim that their products are natural. General Mills was sued in 2012 for misrepresenting the facts about its 100 percent natural granola bars that contain high maltose corn syrup and maltodextrin. Snapple faces same kind of lawsuit in 2011.

In a 2014 survey, it was found that while 60 percent of buyers look for word “natural” on the foods they buy, about two thirds of them believe that natural products contain now pesticides, artificial ingredients, or GMOs, including things such as antibiotics, artificial growth hormones and drugs in meat they buy.

What’re the facts about “local” food? Is that regulated?

That’s another vague label. Till date there’s no legal definition of what makes any food “local”. Some consider this as food produced in 400 mile radius, others believe it within 100 miles. It all depends on who you ask.

Amid the debate on this subject, there’s an argument that food miles are just one component for calculating any food’s carbon footprint. Production and its storage are bigger factors.

So is it the same story with the word “organic” on food labels?

Not anymore, but sometime ago it used to be. It took years for the government to clearly define the word “organic” but today our organic industry is highly regulated. Producers have to follow stringent rules as per USDA regulations; they can’t use GMOs, chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Organic egg, meat and various dairy products cannot include antibiotics and growth hormones. Livestock now are required to have year-around grazing access, and cannot be give GMO feed. In addition, farms cannot use prohibited substances on its land for three years pior to getting the USDA Organic status.

Is there any difference between “organic” and USDA Organic?

Yes, there’s considerable difference between the two. First, its more expensive for any farm to apply for USDA Organic certification. Second, some farmers don t’ believe in USDA’s organic regulations and feel that no synthetic materials or pesticides should be used once a farm gets organic certification.