Shayna over at Food, Farms, and Famine posted about what the label “organic” means. The specific wording, and where on the package the statement is placed, is an indication of just how “organic” the product might be,
This video also discusses the meaning of various organic labels (put after the jump because it starts playing automatically):
If you’re interested in food issues, check out the Food, Farms, and Famine site–you can find everything from a discussion of the newest wonder-food, the acai berry, to a link to a history of food labeling. [Full disclosure: I know the students’ professor, the ever-fabulous Abby K.]
Also: an eco-labeling website, ownership of organic brands, and what does “organic” look like?
Gwen Sharp is an associate professor of sociology at Nevada State College. You can follow her on Twitter at @gwensharpnv.
Comments 8
Margo — March 6, 2010
Working a lower level job in specialty food industry (tea specifically) I've always been rather confused on the politics of organic labeling. Some farms simply can't afford to get USDA certified (especially when they're overseas), and some are USDA certified organic, and their products come labeled as such in the wholesale packaging, but then our store can't label them as Organic in official packaging and literature for some reason or another. It's bizarre.
I have a few acquaintances who work in grocery who have similar sentiments; that it becomes increasingly difficult for a small farmer to afford certification. Some hold the theory that it's a conspiracy to keep bigger food corporations in business while choking out the little guys and keeping organic food expensive. I'm inclined to believe that it's just as important to make sure we can't just slap "organic" on any product we please, much the way we see with the word 'natural', as it becomes essentially meaningless with overuse. At least "organic" does have a measurable, quantifiable legal meaning in this context, which can prevent merchants from raising prices on the same products just because it has a buzzword on it.
Joshua — March 6, 2010
Given the actual ideals of the organic movement, it's tragic that this is what the term has come down to.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_organic_farming
"An organic farm, properly speaking, is not one that uses certain methods and substances and avoids others; it is a farm whose structure is formed in imitation of the structure of a natural system that has the integrity, the independence and the benign dependence of an organism." —Wendell Berry, "The Gift of Good Land"
Hey, Horizon Farms! I'm looking at you!
A.O. — March 7, 2010
As we know USA´s legislation is completely dictated by the lobbyists. Just as we see here "organic" does not mean organic at all but can legally contain GMO ingredients. In fact, in USA you cannot legally advertise a product as non-GMO at all. Which means that all products do practically contain GMO ingredients in the end of the day. Even with this "organic" label it is impossible to tell if the product contains some GMO or not. And what do you know? It is not illegal for a company to blatantly lie about it since it is not sanctioned.
I am just glad I live in EU, that is all.
What Does an Organic Label Mean? « Christopher A. Haase — March 8, 2010
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Door Actuator — November 17, 2010
organic foods are the best for our health since they are free from dangerous chemicals and toxins ;~;
Guadalupe Parnell — June 8, 2023
Organic Label