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Organic With A Little Bit Of Fudging

The term organic is used to identify foods that meet the USDA's guidelines for foods that have been produced methods that integrate cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity. This means that organic food cannot be grown with the use of synthetic fertilizers, irradiation, sewage sludge, and cannot be genetically modified.

Fudging The Mostly Organic

Foods that contain multiple ingredients can use the USDA organic seal as long as 95% of the ingredients are organic. I think the non-organic ingredients should be labeled in bold letters to make it clear that some of the ingredients or not organic.

Foods that contain at least 70% organic ingredients can use the label "made with organic material" and can list up to three of the organic ingredients on the label. This can mislead some people to think that the item is totally organic, and the three organic ingredients listed are the only ingredients that make up the item.

Foods that contain less than 70% organic ingredients cannot use either label, but individual ingredients can be labeled as being organic. There is controversy over how the USDA handles the labeling of organic foods because of the influence of major food producers. BUYER BEWARE!