Organic Food Labeling, a Video Explanation

A topic often covered in Justmeans editorial is that of organic food labeling. For the average consumer, it can be rather difficult to navigate the store shelves for the most ethical choice; that is, if the consumer even cares about it.

Assuming the consumer does care, labels are very helpful. The USDA's National Organic Program (NOP) uses a branded seal to distinguish organically raised produce against conventionally raised produce. Usually this helps a consumer make a choice between industrial foods. Here's a great video explaining what the organic label does for the grocery store consumer.

Organic produce can use many of the same types of chemicals that conventional producers use, they just can't be synthetic. So that means that organic produce may have pesticides and herbicide residue, and should still be washed thoroughly before consumed. Organic labeling does not necessarily dissuade monocrop techniques or insist on soil or water conservation or preservation. It is likely that naturally, some of these things occur to the organic farmer and that he takes them into practice, but as I understand it, these are not concerns of the NOP.

However, what organic labeling does ensure is:

• No synthetic pesticides are used.


• No synthetic fertilizer is used.


• No synthetic growth hormones are used on livestock.


• Livestock is not allowed to be raised with antibiotics. (The language on this leads me to believe that antibiotics may be used in cases where it is necessary for the health of the animal, but may not be used as a practice of raising the animal.)


• No food may be irradiated.


• No GMO seed may be used.

It's important to note that many small farms opt out of the NOP for a number of reasons, but mostly for cost. So a small farmer may not be certified organic, but may possibly be striving higher than the NOP standards in the first place. An even stronger vote than using the USDA Organic seal is to shop at farmer's markets. Not only is it a more intimate setting, but you can find seasonal, heirloom produce that would otherwise be phased out in monoculture practices of all industrial farming, organic or not.

This editorial isn't meant to be a form of dissent on organic labeling; in fact, quite the opposite. If you're going to be at the grocery, purchasing organic is your best bet. Within that label is a level of accountability provided by our government and our tax dollars, so we should be using it when confronted with the option: conventional or organic.

Photo credit: video still from creator, michaelwtapp