by aaron gottlieb
Your local grocery store has changed. It’s become more “green”, and is now carrying “organic” versions of your favorite fruits and vegetables. Or at least that’s what they would like you to think. Unfortunately, terms like “going green” have become buzz words and everyone is rushing to get a piece of the organic pie. That is why it’s more important than ever to slow down, read labels and ask questions to make sure you’re really getting what you pay for.
For example, did you know there are four levels of organic certification? Just because a product uses the word “organic” does not mean it’s 100% certified organic. According to the USDA, only when a product clearly states “100% Organic” can you be sure that every ingredient was grown, manufactured and processed following organic standards. When a product uses only the single term “Organic” it means at least 95% of the ingredients are organic, but not necessarily all of them. In either case, these products are allowed to bear the USDA Organic logo.
If a product states “made with organic ingredients” that means it contains 70% to 94% organic ingredients and if you only see the term “organic” on the ingredients panel it means less than 70% of the ingredients are organic. Products at these levels are NOT allowed to bear the USDA Organic logo.
So next time you’re in the organic section of your local grocery store, take a second look. How many of the products bear the USDA logo? Have you been tricked by clever product placement or signage? Are you getting 100% certified organic products?
One way to avoid confusion is to shop in a certified organic supermarket. This is a voluntary certification that shows a grocery store and its staff are properly trained in, operating in compliance with, and fully committed to USDA organic standards. Differences you will find at a certified organic grocery store include:
• No chemical pesticides used on products, for pest control, or for any other reason• Tracking of produce items from the farm, to the handler, to the distributor, to the store to ensure organic integrity is never compromised
• Separate storage areas for organic foods and non-organic foods to eliminate any chance of cross-contamination • Yearly monitoring by accredited USDA agencies to review all aspects of organic business including pest management, organic food handling, truck inspections, paper trail audits, cleaning supplies, verifying organic food companies, etc.
Some certified organic grocery stores take additional steps:
• Carrying ONLY 100% certified organic produce to prevent any cross-contamination and to ensure every item you pick up is in fact, certified organic
• Using only certified organic produce in all areas of food service such as a deli or juice bar
Wherever you shop, you want to make sure you’re getting what you pay for. And while conventional grocery stores are going “green” in some departments, it is not their main focus or their mission. If any organic products are transported in conventional produce trucks, stored in non-organic stock rooms, or come in contact with non-organic foods, they instantly lose their certification and can no longer be guaranteed organic. Making the decision to go organic is a step in the right direction, not only for the environment but also for your family’s health. Knowing how to buy certified organic products is the next step, and the one that will help you become a well educated consumer.
“U Are What U Eat” is a continuing article courtesy of Native Sun Natural Foods Market, A Certified Organic Supermarket. This week’s article was written by owner Aaron Gottlieb. Find a Native Sun near you at any of their many locations, including Southside at 11030 Baymeadows Road, Mandarin at 10000 San Jose Blvd, and the Native Sun Café inside Brooks Health & Fitness at 10423 Centurion Parkway. Visit nativesunjax.com or call 260-2791 for more information.
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