| "Organic" has some quite specific legal definitions in | | | | can read all the latest Organic Food articles and |
| most developed countries.In the U.S, all farms or | | | | research at general food grown free of |
| products claiming to be "certified organic" must be | | | | pesticides, herbicides and genetically modified |
| guaranteed by a USDA-approved independent | | | | organisms (GMO) is organic to some extent. |
| agency to be meeting the following guidelines:* | | | | Certified organic food is that which meets the |
| Sound records kept of all operations* No use of | | | | strict criteria of the USDA as described above. |
| antibiotics or hormones in livestock* No use of | | | | Most countries have their own version of |
| genetically modified organisms* No irradiation* Use | | | | regulation.Organic food can be classified into two |
| sound soil conservation and crop rotation practice* | | | | groups, fresh and processed.There are many |
| And most importantly, that there has been no | | | | additional requirements for certification of |
| useage of prohibited materials within 3 years prior | | | | processed organic food:* contains a minimum |
| to certification, or at any time during | | | | percentage of organic ingredients.* has no added |
| certification.The USDA defines 'prohibited materials' | | | | artificial ingredients like preservatives etc.* is |
| as synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and sewage | | | | processed free of artificial methods like chemical |
| sludge. It is also a requirement that there is no | | | | ripening or irradiation.Most processed organic food |
| cross-contamination during processing, which | | | | is now available in supermarkets. There are also |
| means organic wheat for example cannot be | | | | organic only stores in most large cities now, and |
| ground in a flour factory that also handles | | | | there will be many more similar stores as the |
| non-organic material.Produce grown organically | | | | production of certified organic food |
| certainly tastes better than the usual | | | | increases.Jeremy is the owner of and publisher of |
| supermarket stock. It also contains higher levels | | | | the Organic News blog. Go to for all the latest |
| of nutrients and far lower residual pesticides. You | | | | organic food articles and news. |