We bet you’ve seen this label on some of your groceries. Do you know what it means? Here’s a quick summary to help you understand just what to expect when you see this certification.

USDA Certified Organic comes from the USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP).

If you see this certification, you can expect:

• No GMOs * the use of GMOs, most conventional pesticides and herbicides, sewage sludge, antibiotics, growth hormones, and irradiation are all prohibited.
• A 3-year process to crop certification * organic producers record procedures and maintain cropland free of prohibited substances for three years before earning the seal, which varies in price based on the certifier.
• Percentages * the seal is permitted on commodities that are 100 percent organic or made with at least 95 percent organic ingredients. The USDA’s National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances identifies synthetic substances that may be used and nonsynthetic substances that cannot be used in organic production and handling operations.
• Organic feed for livestock * For meat, poultry, dairy, and eggs to be USDA Certified Organic, animals must have been fed 100 percent organic feed; never given growth hormones or antibiotics; and not have been routinely confined. However, the NOP does not police animal treatment. Cloned animals or their offspring also cannot qualify for the seal.

Where you’ll see USDA Organic: produce, dairy, eggs, beef, poultry, organic body care products comprised of plant ingredients, wine, and processed or packaged foods

This entry was posted on Monday, September 14th, 2009 at 5:20 am and is filed under Articles - Food, Articles - Health, Chemicals, Additives & Preservatives. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.