So even though the holidays have scrapped my healthy-eating streak for the time being, I have always been relatively health conscious. Since 2006 I've been mostly vegetarian (I do eat seafood though) and have gone through many periods attempting to be vegan. A subject that has interested me this year was that of GM foods and whether or not they should be labelled. There are obviously many other labels floating around our produce these days but wanted to tackle the three most common ones. The myth is what I and most people assume the labels mean, while the reality is what is really out there.
Natural
Myth: A product that has no artificial colors and/or flavors and made with all natural ingredients.
Reality: Was always skeptical about this vague label. The FDA has not actually developed a definition for this term as it's too difficult to determine whether or not a food product is natural. Generally the term is permitted when the food does not contain added color, artificial flavors, or synthetic substances.
Organic
Myth: Fruits and vegetables that are grown on land that is completely free from pesticides. In the case of animals, they are not injected with growth hormones.
Reality: An ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony.
Free Range/Run
Myth: A cruelty-free farm that doesn't cage its animals in small spaces but lets them roam free and spend lots of time outdoors.
Reality: The reality of this one couldn't be more further from the truth. It means that hens are not kept in cages but are often kept indoors at almost the same density as if they were in cages. There is virtually no regulation on this term and as long as a window is present in the barn this may be enough to deem the eggs from filthy, overcrowded barns "free range".
List of common food labels: Label Decoding
General information on battery cages: Humane Food
For differences between organic certification labels: Comparison Chart
Natural
Myth: A product that has no artificial colors and/or flavors and made with all natural ingredients.
Reality: Was always skeptical about this vague label. The FDA has not actually developed a definition for this term as it's too difficult to determine whether or not a food product is natural. Generally the term is permitted when the food does not contain added color, artificial flavors, or synthetic substances.
Organic
Myth: Fruits and vegetables that are grown on land that is completely free from pesticides. In the case of animals, they are not injected with growth hormones.
Reality: An ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony.
Free Range/Run
Myth: A cruelty-free farm that doesn't cage its animals in small spaces but lets them roam free and spend lots of time outdoors.
Reality: The reality of this one couldn't be more further from the truth. It means that hens are not kept in cages but are often kept indoors at almost the same density as if they were in cages. There is virtually no regulation on this term and as long as a window is present in the barn this may be enough to deem the eggs from filthy, overcrowded barns "free range".
List of common food labels: Label Decoding
General information on battery cages: Humane Food
For differences between organic certification labels: Comparison Chart
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