For related articles and more information, please visit OCA’s All About Organics page and our The Myth of Natural page.
Certified organic … chemical free … dolphin-safe … the stamps and slogans on food labels make a lot of promises, but can they back it up? Audobon magazine breaks down which labels are meaningful and which are USDA-certified bull crap.
These labels can’t be used without independent verification:
USDA Organic
Fair Trade
Rainforest Alliance
Food Alliance
Demeter Biodynamic
Salmon-Safe
Bird Friendly
Certified Humane Raised and Handled
FishWise
Non-GMO Project Verified
Healthy Grown Potatoes
These should be taken with a grain of salt — they may mean something, but they don’t have to:
Raised Without Antibiotics
Natural
Free Range
Grass Fed
Nutri Clean Residue Free Certification
Marine Stewardship Council