What is organic food?
Food that has been produced according to the principles of organic farming is called organic food. Organic agriculture is an approach that aims to improve biodiversity, soil health and the well-being and overall environment.
Organic farming uses natural fertilizers such as compost, manure, and does not use synthetic pesticides or herbicides.
Organic foods are also free of genetically modified organisms and growth hormones.
Why Choose Organic?
Organic food is popular for many reasons. Organic food has many benefits.
* Health: Because organic food is free of harmful chemicals, it’s a healthier and safer option for consumers.
* Environmental: Organic agriculture methods promote soil health, biodiversity and environmental protection.
* Texture: Many believe that organic foods have a better flavour than conventionally-grown food.
* Animal Welfare: Organic farming promotes the welfare of animals including those raised as food.
Recent updates to Organic Regulations
The United States Department of Agriculture published a report in January 2023 updating its regulations on organic products .
The updated regulation strengthens oversight and enforcement for the production, handling and sale of USDA organic agricultural products. It is designed to protect the integrity of organic supply chains and build consumer and industry confidence in the USDA organic label.
This updated regulation addresses a number topics, such as changes aimed at:
* Improve organic product traceability, reduce the number uncertified entities within the supply chain (including importers, brokers and traders).
* Label containers that are not used by retailers for the shipping or storage of organic products.
* Require certification agents to conduct audits and inspections without prior notice to improve the quality.
* Clarify the process by which certified organic operations can make changes to their Organic System Plan.
* Set up requirements for agent certification personnel in terms of training and qualification to ensure high-quality, consistent certification activities.
* Set standards for evaluating other countries’ organic regulations and accepting them so that imported products comply with USDA regulations.
* Clarify USDA’s authority to enforce the Organic Farming Law and establish a procedure for appealing and resolving disputes.
* Clarify and standardize the method of calculating the organic contents in products with multiple ingredients.
* Require that certified operations have better recordkeeping, anti-fraud procedures and require the certifying agent to perform traceability and information sharing audits.
These updates are designed to ensure that all organic products meet the highest quality and safety standards.
How to choose organic products
You can take steps to make sure you are buying authentic organic foods as the USDA continues its efforts to tighten up regulations on organic food.
Here’s a list of tips that will help you select organic products.
* Look for USDA organic seals: The USDA organic stamp is the best indicator of a truly organic product. The seal is only awarded to products that meet stringent standards in production, labeling, and processing.
* Check the ingredients list before buying a product. If a product is labeled organic, then it should only contain organic ingredients.
* Get to know your local farmer. If you can access a local farmers’ market, buy your produce from the farmer directly. You can then ask the farmer about their growing methods and gauge his commitment to organic farming.
* Buy products from brands you trust: Choose brands with a reputation for producing organic products of high quality. You can find reviews and ratings of organic products on websites like Consumer Reports, Organic Integrity Database or Environmental Working Group.
