Have you ever wondered what Organic means? We use it all the time to describe Fetching Foods ingredients. Did you know it’s a regulated word?
Using the word Organic or label on food products requires certification that farmers and handlers comply with stringent requirements, document their processes from start to finish, and get inspected every year.
USDA certified organic foods are grown and processed according to federal guidelines including many factors like soil quality, animal raising practices, pest and weed control, and use of additives.
Produce can be called organic if it’s certified to have grown on soil that had no prohibited substances applied for three years prior to harvest.
Organic meat regulations require that animals are raised in living conditions accommodating their natural behaviors (like the ability to graze on pasture), fed 100% organic feed and forage, and not administered antibiotics or hormones.
Organic foods are NOT grown or handled with genetically modified organisms (GMOs), which are expressly prohibited by organic standards.
Every Organic product names the USDA-accredited certifier on the packaging. Verify it’s legit by looking for the identity of the certifier on packaged products.
Now you know what to expect when you buy something labeled organic.
Visit www.usda.gov to learn more.
