Organic vs Natural- What's The Difference?

There is a lot of talk about the difference between organic and "natural" food.  Most people don't know that there are major differences between the two.  It 's unfortunate that the two titles get tossed around a lot, it just confuses people to the point where no one seems to be able to determine which is which!  So lets separate this confusion and break down the facts about both of these food labels to ensure that your next visit to the local store is an educated shopping experience so you know exactly what it is you are purchasing.

Basic Facts: What is Organic?

• Organic food is grown with strict standards that use no synthetic pesticides or fertilizers in the field.  Organic growing maintains soil and ecological biodiversity, GMO seeds are not allowed.
• Organic foods are minimally processed.  They contain no preservatives; no artificial ingredients, no GMOs, and they cannot be irradiated.
• Organic meat, poultry  eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones.
• Farmers earn the USDA Certified Organic label by growing and processing to strict organic standards.  They also go through a stringent process of fields and records inspections.  Soil and water are tested regularly to make sure a farm is not using synthetic products.

What Does "Natural" Really Mean?

• The term 'natural' really can mean just about anything!  (Scary, I know!)  There are no rules or guidelines and no inspection or certification system.  A food labeled "natural" is usually considered to contain less preservatives and chemical additives than other kinds of processed foods, though since there is no way to legally supervise the product, no sure answer may be set forth.  So basically all the term means is just to confuse consumers into thinking they are getting something as healthy as organic without the added expense, which is certainly not the case at all!

Soph