What does the label of organic all natural non GMO and fair trade mean?

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when it comes to your family's food and other products, it's natural that what you want is the healthiest for you and your family. However, walking down the aisle of a grocery store can be a complete challenge. Full of "organic", "all natural", "gluten free" and "non GM" labels, it's hard to tell what you're buying. Please read on to understand the true meaning behind the eight food marketing statements on the food label and determine which products you actually want to put in the shopping cart.

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1. What does "organic" mean? According to California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), organic is defined as "food produced without the use of harmful or toxic pesticides, sludge or petroleum based synthetic fertilizers, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), bioengineering or ionizing radiation." Organic meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products come from animals that have not been cloned and that do not have antibiotics or growth hormones. " "Organic labels can be found on agricultural products, dairy products, meat, processed foods, condiments and beverages," explains Rene ficek, a registered dietitian. Food labeled "organic" must contain at least 95% of the organic ingredients. There is also a "made with organic ingredients," a label that can be applied to products that contain at least 70% of the organic ingredients, ficheck said. The bottom line is, if you're interested in buying organic food, look for the USDA organic logo; it only carries "100% organic" or "organic" (that is, at least 95% organic) food.

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2. What does "gluten free" mean?

labels and regulations around "gluten free" are important for anyone with celiac disease or who is intolerant of gluten. The good news is that the food and Drug Administration recently released a final rule on the use of "gluten free" and "gluten free," "gluten free," and "gluten free," all of which maintain the same standards. According to the regulation, one of the standards is that the limit of gluten is less than 20 parts per million (PPM), which is the lowest level that can be detected in food. In addition to meeting this standard, foods that may bear these labels shall not include any type of wheat, rye, barley or hybrids of these grains. If an ingredient in food is initially extracted from one of the grains, it must be processed to remove the gluten and the remaining amount must be below the threshold of 20 ppm. Now listen to me: is marijuana the new kale? The "Bong Appetit" main course introduces the health benefits of weeds and food. What is the meaning of "non transgenic project validation"? Today, more than 70% of packaged foods in North America contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The top five crops causing this phenomenon are corn, rape, soybean, cotton and beet. With the understanding of genetically modified organisms, some people are making the decision to avoid genetically modified organisms as much as possible, and there is a non genetically modified project verification symbol on the food packaging, which makes this decision easier. " "The non GMO project is a non-profit organization that provides a third-party labeling program for the only product in North America that does not grow genetically engineered," explains Rene ficek, a registered dietician. They validated that process products, from seeds to shelves, were produced according to their strict best practice of avoiding transgenes, "ficheck added. Another option is to look for USDA's organic logo, because USDA's national organic standards prohibit the use of genetically modified organisms. Credit: mattilvan / iStock / Getty Images

4. What do you mean by "free range" and "no cage"?

also known as "free roaming", you will see these labels appear when you purchase meat, poultry and eggs. Interestingly, the U.S. Department of agriculture only regulates "free keeping" of poultry for meat; this means that poultry animals can go outdoors to a certain extent - although there is no standard for the time or area of outdoor activities. In egg production, these labels can also be misleading because there are no standards. It usually means that hens are kept indoors and have some access to the outdoors, but there are the same limitations in the quality and quantity of external access. Another potentially confusing label is "no cage." "One of the really annoying labels is the 'cage free' statement for eggs," said Deborah Niemann, author of "home made and handmade." Many consumers mistakenly believe that this means that chickens are running around outside, but this is not the case. "The absence of cages only means that hens don't live in small cages, but they still live in buildings," Niemann added. What does "fair trade" mean?

globally, FTN certifies many foods, including coffee, tea and herbs, cocoa, fresh fruits and vegetables, sugar, beans and grains, flowers, nuts, oil and butter, honey, spices and wine. The label "fair trade certification" ensures fair trade practices at all levels of the supply chain, from farmers to workers to the surrounding communities of products. The principles of certification include fair price, credit, working conditions, community development and environmental sustainability. " Workers must have fair wages, safe and fair working conditions and the right to join trade unions. Renee ficeck, nutritionist. " Total prohibition of child or forced labour - the cultivation, production and processing of crops must also be carried out in a way that supports social, economic and environmental development. "

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6. What does "eating grass" mean?

grass food is a kind of certification specially for meat and dairy products. "Grazing is a USDA standard that establishes parameters for grazing ruminants, such as cows and goats, to eat only grass and feed during the growing season," explains registered dietician Rene ficek. However, this label is not limited to restricting the use of hormones, pesticides or antibiotics. " "The American herbivore association is an organization that certifies beef, bison, dairy products, mutton, and goats that are fed only on ranches and are raised without antibiotics, synthetic hormones, confinement, and high animal welfare standards," ficheck explained. Other animals, such as chickens and pigs, can also be grazed and raised, but there is no one for grazing or grazing at present.Specific certification standards for non ruminants. "

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7. What does "all natural" mean? Some labels that look like green are just marketing. " Although many products have "all natural" labels or packaging, there is no universal standard or definition for this statement, ficheck said. "From a food science point of view, it's difficult to define a 'natural' food because it may have been processed and no longer be a product of the earth," the FDA said. In other words, the FDA has not yet developed a definition for the use of "natural" or its derivatives. However, if the food does not contain added colors, artificial flavors or synthetic substances, the agency has no objection to the use of the term. "The bottom line is that this statement has no impact and may not be worth the extra cost in the store."

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8. What does "green" mean? Caroline blazovsky, a health family expert in Boston, said that the biggest consensus she tried to reach with customers when buying cleaning products was just because the label said "green" doesn't mean it's healthy. "It's important to read these labels and understand what you're buying," she said. The word "green" can be abused and often misused, which can confuse anyone. The environment working group (EWG) has created a database that contains the safety levels of more than 2000 household cleaning products, so you can determine which products can be purchased safely and which products should be discarded.

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the label "natural" does not necessarily mean security! "It's important to realize that seemingly harmless' natural 'smells like lavender, citrus and pine all increase the amount of VOCs in our homes," said Caroline brazovsky, a health family expert. Just because something is "natural" doesn't mean it must be healthy. Natural odors can also cause indoor air quality problems. "

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What do you think? Do you know the real meaning of these tag phrases? Is there any news that surprises you? What label do you look for in the shop? Is there a label you think should be included in this list that we missed? Will you pay attention to the new label now? Please leave a message below and let us know.

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