What Is Organic, Really?
According to USDA Organic Label Certifications:
"100 percent organic," means that products must contain only organically produced ingredients and "approved processing aids."
"Organic," products must consist of at least 95 percent organically produced ingredients. The remaining ingredients must consist of USDA approved non agricultural (non-organic) substances.
"Made with organic ingredients," processed food products must contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients.
The perception that there is nothing better than USDA Organic Certification is just a perception, the reality is that in the growing and processing of USDA Organic foods, about 275 "approved non agricultural (synthetic chemicals) are allowed. That also includes anything for which there isn't an organic equivalent.
So, stretching the imagination, horse manure or Mercury could be included in food and the food could still be certified as Organic, since there isn't commercially available organic horse manure or mercury. That is how Soy lecithin slithered it's way into so many organic foods, a substance considered to be a dangerous industrial toxin.
There are many different organic certifications and if eating pure wholesome, natural, unadulterated foods is important to you, it will take buying from farmers & manufacturers that you know and trust or a learning curve to wade your way through the various certifications to see what's allowed that you might not want to eat.
Sadly, not all manufacturers stay pure, we've discovered that they change ingredients from time and that's when you vote with your dollars and let the manufacturer know of your decision.
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