Babies, Parenting, Child Health, Infant Nutrition

Organic Baby Food – Understanding Food Labels

06.04.2008 | 2:39:02 pm | Posted by admin

By Colleen Hurley, RD, Certified Kid’s Nutrition Specialist

If you feel confused by the ever-changing lingo now seen on food labels you are not alone. We understand the benefits of organic foods, especially organic baby food, yet it can be overwhelming to decipher which foods to choose. Much of the organic food currently in the marketplace has been certified whereas standards previously varied through either private or government certifiers. Not all foods are created, or labeled, equally so it is important to become an educated consumer.

Certification

Organic certification in the United States in governed by the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), a division of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Under supervision of the NOSB is the National Organic Program (NOP) which implements, develops and regulates national handling, production and labeling requirements for organic agricultural products. In addition, the NOP accredits certifying agents who inspect organic food production and handling to ensure they meet USDA standards. The NOSB meets several times a year to stay on top of the evolving food production methods.

Certification Requirements

Before a food is allowed to bear the USDA organic food label; the farm, production methods, and the food must be inspected by a government approved certifier. USDA organic foods cannot:

Contain GMOs: genetically modified organisms or manipulation of genes across species
Contain synthetic pesticides and/or herbicides
Use irradiation or processed sewage sludge as fertilizer
Contain antibiotics or growth hormones in organic livestock: in addition, the animals must treated humanely and fed organically grown feed

Labels

The USDA seal is not found on all organic foods, as it is a voluntary option for food producers. However, companies are subject to a $10,000 fine for labeling a food organic knowing it does meet USDA standards. In addition, foods must contain at least 95% organically produced ingredients in order to have the USDA stamp. Here is a guide to terms often seen on food labels:

100% Organic: foods must contain only organically produced ingredients and the seal can also be used on single ingredient foods such as milk or cheese.
Organic: 95% of the ingredients must be organic and must not contain added sulfites. The other 5% may contain an ingredient that is not commercially available organic or a substance permitted by the NOSB.
Made with Organic ingredients: products must contain at least 70% organic ingredients and the label may identify those ingredients but cannot use the USDA organic seal. The other 30% of ingredients must not be genetically engineered or include other prohibited methods such as fertilization with sewage sludge.
Organic ingredients: food may contain less than 70% organic ingredients and the label must identify the organic ingredients when a percentage (“% organic food″) is used. In addition, the label must have the name and address of the manufacturer and list “certified organic by____″ with the name of the certifying agent.

Natural Vs Organic

The word natural or the term “natural ingredients″ is not synonymous with organic. The USDA limits the use of “natural″ on food labels to meat and poultry products. To use the term natural on a food label, the food must not contain any artificial flavorings, colorings, preservatives, or any synthetic ingredients. Natural foods must also be “minimally processed″ which the USDA defines as a process that does not alter the raw product. Even though the USDA can hold companies accountable for misuse of this claim, there is no standardization system in place. It is important to read the ingredients carefully as “natural″ foods often contain some not so natural ingredients.

For more labeling information visit:
National Geographic provides a “green″ buyers guide

Gaiam defines other label terms including “free range″ and “cage free″

Environmental Working Group

Organic.org

Organic Consumers Association

Organic Trade Association represents organic foods in both the US and Canada

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About this Blog:

The Baby Mum-Mum blog discusses everything to do with babies and parenting with a focus on child health and child development. Baby Mum-Mum is a healthy, easy to digest baby rice snack that is enjoyed by babies and mothers around the world for its portability, gluten free ingredients and great taste.

Announcement:

On February 22, the FDA issued letters relating to labelling to 22 food companies, including several baby food manufacturers. We were advised by the FDA that we are not permitted to print the statements "Low in Fat" or "No added fat or oils" on our Baby Mum-Mum packaging.

Although these statements are true and each serving of Baby Mum-Mum does not contain any fat, the FDA has brought to our attention that these claims are technically not allowed on our packaging solely because the product is intended for consumption by infants and children under 4 years of age.

In the future, these claims will be removed from our packaging.

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