The Meaning of Buying Organic Product for Consumers

Everyone may have heard about the term of "organic product", but the important thing are to know these products really better for consumers or not.

Organic Products are defined by The Organic Trade Association, as a system of farming that maintains and replenishes soil fertility without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers. These foods or products have been processed very little without any artificial ingredients or preservatives, which more and more people are looking for.

Americans are becoming more and more environmentally aware these days and we likely have noticed that organic products are becoming more popular everywhere we seem to go.

Do you know that the term organic also includes other items other than foods?  The term organic also includes other items such as personal care products like shampoo, soap, toothpaste and more that are also available in organic form. Organic products don't stop at foods, either. You can also purchase cosmetics, mattresses and even pet products that are considered organic.

Even though there are a few laws that govern the personal care ingredients within personal care products, most personal care products are exempt from strict guidelines, so we really need to check the labeling to see what the ingredients are before choosing something that may not be all that beneficial. The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) allows products that contain at least 95 percent organic ingredients to display the the organic label. 

Here is the USDA Definition of Organically Produced Organic Products Regulations and guides to help you decide if these products are right for you.

In order for products to be able to display the USDA Certified Organic seal, each product is required to contain 95 to 100 percent organic ingredients.Products can be labeled 100 percent organic if they contain 100 percent of organic ingredients.

Products that contain more than 70 percent, but less than 94 percent of organic ingredients are allowed to display a label stating that the item is made with organic ingredients but remember these products cannot use the USDA Certified-Organic seal.

The other side, farmers need to do their homework if they are to display an organic label. Farmers are required to document and prove that their products and farming operations actually comply with these USDA guidelines. In addition, farmers are required to submit their farming system plans along with their well documented records in order to remain compliant with the guidelines. Inspections are required on the farms and the farmers understand that they can have their goods inspected at any time.

To know whether you are really purchasing something that is said to be organic, look for the organic certification. If you do not know the difference between organic and sustainable, you are not alone. It can be very confusing trying to decide whether or not food without pesticides are better.