May 9, 2011

It’s 9 o’clock on a Saturday. The regular crowd is shuffling about. You’re standing in the aisle of your local Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, or Co-op. The two products in your hand have vastly different prices. How can you make an educated decision for yourself, your family and your pocketbook?

As always, the more educated you are about what you are buying the better you are able to make those kinds of decisions. The USDA certifies food and an increasing number of other products as “organic.”

Let’s start with “certified organic” because products labeled “natural” have little or no guidelines,(except in meat and poultry) and can be vastly misrepresented. Mercury and Uranium are both “natural” but none of us would want to buy food or other products in which they are ingredients. If you doubt this hyperbole read on.

With “certified organic” food the guidelines are very strict and stores are more educated. The USDA inspects farms and processing plants to ensure that the extra money you pay at checkout ensures that you are buying a product free of agricultural chemicals and synthetic insecticides. Labeling guidelines are severely enforced, and that makes shopping for certified organic a lot easier. (If the sticker on your fruit and vegetables starts with #9 it is certified organic.)

With products other than food the grey areas start to pop up. The USDA provides for three categories: “100% organic”, “organic”(at least 95%), and “made with organic ingredients.”(At least 70%) The first category is easily understood. It’s 100% organic, period. The third category is rarely seen because if companies spend the money and effort to be certified organic by the USDA, they will usually try to get their product certified in the first two categories.

The second category, “organic” is probably the most misused and the most unethically marketed. In order for a company to use anywhere on their label, website, or marketing materials, at least 95% of the product must contain organically produced ingredients. Which means that if it says “organic” anywhere on the product but it doesn’t have the USDA Certified organic symbol, you’re being duped! (Click here to see the symbol)

When in doubt contact the manufacturer and ask to see the certification document from the USDA. If you hear some version of, “oh some of our ingredients are certified, or it costs too much to get the certification,” run for the hills. If they are legit they should have no problems providing you with a copy or a letter from the USDA.

If you suspect that they are not being honest, you can contact the USDA enforcement branch here, and help do your part to keep us consumers safe. It takes about 5 minutes and you’ll sleep better, we promise!

The Mixaroma Blog Team

If you have any comments/questions/suggestions please send them here-info@mixaroma.com.

www.mixaroma.com

Follow us on twitter at: @mixaroma

Thank you for visiting our new Mixaroma Inc. blog. We hope you will visit Aroma Boutique athttp://aromaboutique.wordpress.com often for exciting new updates.