Natural Foods vs. Organic Foods

                                Natural Foods vs. Organic Foods

 

Do 'organic' and 'natural' mean the same thing?

No, "natural" and "organic" are not interchangeable terms. You may see "natural" and other terms such as "all natural," "free-range" or "hormone-free" on food labels. These descriptions must be truthful, but don't confuse them with the term "organic." Only foods that are grown and processed according to USDA organic standards can be labeled organic.

Natural Foods vs. Organic Foods

Where organic food has legal definitions & standards for what it actually is created with, the word

“natural” in food labeling does not. In general, it’s supposed to imply that the food is minimally processed and does not contain any manufactured ingredients. However, there are no official standards for “natural food”.  The FAO (Food & Agricultural Organization) does not recognize the term “natural”. The FDA and USDA both do not have any rules for “natural” labeling. In fact, the FDA has discouraged the food industry from using the term.
In a perfect world, food manufacturers would not call their food or ingredients “natural” if they weren’t – but as there is no legal meaning to “natural”, it means manufacturers have almost free reign to call their foods “natural” even if they are not.
There is even an act, The Food, Drug, & Cosmetic Act that prohibits labeling food that is false or misleading, however, it doesn’t give any specifics.
Ultimately, it is up to you, the consumer, to be responsible with your food purchase choice