USDA ORGANIC FOOD LABEL RULES

On October 21,2002, the U. S. Department of Agriculture began enforcing a national set of standards governing use of the term "organic" on food labels.  For the first time, consumers throughout the country saw a standard label and began trusting that the label product meets a minimum standard.  What does this mean to you, a consumer of organic foods?

The USDA organic rule sets forth four categories, and label terms to designate them, depending on how much of the product is organic.  The "USDA Organic" seal can be displayed only on the top two -- products that are 95 to 100 percent organic.

100 percent organic

Products that contain only organically produced ingredients.

Organic

Products that are 95 to 99 percent organic.  Label can say "Organic," as in "Organic Cookies."  The 5 percent or less of such a product that isn't organic can't include a non-organic product if an organic one is available, and any synthetics must be on a list of approved synthetics.

Made with organic ingredients

Products that are 70 to 94 percent organic (and whose non-agricultural ingredients all appear on that approved list).

Less than 70 percent

Products with less than 70 percent organic ingredients can list each organic ingredient ("organic grapes"), but only in the ingredient panel.

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