| In my previous article, "Organic, What Does It | | | | for products. |
| Really Mean?", I discussed the definition of organic | | | | Made with Organic: If a product contains 70% to |
| foods and the requirements for certifying a food | | | | 95% organically produced ingredients, it can carry |
| as organic. You see many labels on food items, | | | | a "Made with Organic" statement on the front of |
| but, in the case of an organic label on a product, | | | | the package. |
| the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) strictly | | | | Less than 70% Organic Products: If a product |
| regulates the use of the term organic relating to | | | | contains less that 70% of organically produced |
| the sale of food products. | | | | ingredients, the manufacturer can state this only |
| The USDA has developed the regulations for | | | | on the back panel of the product. |
| labeling an organic product based on the percent | | | | If you are in the produce section and are not |
| of organic ingredients in the product. Here are the | | | | sure if an item is organic, check the PLU (product |
| definitions of the organic label. | | | | look up code) stickers on the fruits and |
| Organic: Usually single ingredient foods, such as | | | | vegetables. |
| fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and milk | | | | - Organic products have a five digit PLU starting |
| produced conforming to the standards. If the | | | | with the number 9. |
| product has multiple ingredients, 95% to 100% of | | | | - Conventional product have only a 4 digit PLU. |
| the ingredients must be organic. The 100% | | | | - Genetically modified products begin with an 8. |
| organic label means that 100% of ingredients in | | | | In the next article, I will discuss understanding |
| the product were organically produced. If water | | | | other food labels relating to their methods of food |
| and salt are added, that is not part of the count | | | | production. |