Food Labels You Can Trust

ALL NATURAL. NO HORMONES. FREE-RANGE. 

These claims that are proudly plastered on food packages make health-conscious consumers feel good about what they're putting into their bodies. But what do these labels really mean? After all, food marketers make their living by separating you from your money, not by improving your health. Here are some eco-labels you can trust. 

The rest are on our "Bullsheet," below.

FOOD ALLIANCE CERTIFIED The Food Alliance (FA) is a nonprofit certifier of sustainable foods. Its logo indicates that farmers, ranchers, food processors, packers and distributors work under safe and fair conditions; animals are treated humanely; and there is no use of hormones, nontherapeutic antibiotics or genetically modified organisms. Farms and ranches must use integrated pest management (an environmentally sensitive and commonsense approach to pest control) to conserve soil and water, and protect wildlife. Food processors must also reduce waste, avoid artificial ingredients, and ensure quality control and safe food handling.

ORGANIC USDA-regulated, this term means that the food is produced without the use of most conventional synthetic pesticides (there are a few exceptions) and no petroleum- or sewage-sludge-based fertilizers, genetic modification or ionizing radiation. Organic meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products must come from animals fed 100 percent organic feed containing no animal byproducts, antibiotics or growth hormones. 

Some variations: 
* 100 percent organic: Contains 100 percent organically produced ingredients. 
* Organic: Contains at least 95 percent organic ingredients. 
* Made with organic ingredients: Contains at least 70 percent organic ingredients.

DEMETER CERTIFIED BIODYNAMIC Farming biodynamically means viewing the farm as an ecosystem and contributing to natural resources instead of depleting them. Like organic products, certified (with the Demeter certification mark only) biodynamic foods are produced without the use of synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, genetic modification and animal byproducts (which makes biodynamic beef less likely to carry mad cow disease, too). Biodynamic crops are grown with specific organic fertilizers in areas without strong electromagnetic fields (manmade frequencies that can interfere with the body's natural rhythms). Biodynamic farmers often go so far as to time the sun and moon phases to grow crops in soil that is as fertile as possible.

MARINE STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL (MSC) SUSTAINABLE The MSC supports sustainable fisheries or management systems that "ensure that the catch of marine resources are at a level compatible with long-term sustainable yield, while maintaining the marine environment's biodiversity, productivity and ecological processes." Fish is the number one protein food consumed worldwide. If you care about the health of our oceans, the MSC label ensures you're making a wise choice.

Smart Tip 
Most small growers at local farmers' markets can't afford the process of becoming certified organic. But conscientious growers are still worth buying from. They may even use production methods that go beyond organic criteria for improving soil quality, water quality and biodiversity. Curious? Ask them how they grow their food.

The Bullsheet 
BE WARY WHEN YOU SEE THE FOLLOWING WORDS ON FOOD LABELS—THEY HAVE EITHER NO LEGAL DEFINITION OR NO THIRD-PARTY VERIFICATION SYSTEM: 

NATURAL, FREE-RANGE, CAGE-FREE, ANTIBIOTIC-FREE, CHEMICAL-FREE HORMONE-FREE, RBGH-FREE, ECO-SAFE, ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY AND GREEN. 

READ THE LABEL!!!