What is Certified Organic?
Organic Labeling
Making sense of organic labeling can be difficult, and many do not understand the significance of the USDA Organic label.
“100% Organic”
Foods made with 100% organic ingredients* and may display the USDA Organic seal (*Salt and water are not included)
“Organic”
Products which contain at least 95–99% organic ingredients (by weight). The remaining ingredients are not available organically but are approved by the NOP. These products may display the USDA Organic seal
“Made With Organic Ingredients”
Food which contain 70–94% organic ingredients. These products may not bear the USDA Organic seal
Other
Products with less than 70% organic ingredients may only list organic ingredients on the information panel of the packaging. These products may not bear the USDA Organic seal.
At PizzaSalad, The Organic Choice, everything we use to make your gourmet pizzas and salads is 95-100% USDA certified organic, unless specifically labeled “all-natural”.
The Certification Process
The National Organic Program (NOP) develops and establishes the standards and policies for the production, handling, and labeling of organic agricultural products. The NOP also accredits certifying agents to inspect organic production and handling operations for adherence to the USDA standards.
Businesses directly involved in food production ranging from seed suppliers and farmers to food processors and retailers can be certified. The standards and policies set forth by the USDA’s NOP include production standards for growing, storage, processing, packaging and shipping such as:
- avoidance of:
- synthetic chemical inputs (e.g. fertilizer, pesticides, antibiotics, food additives, etc)
- genetically modified organisms
- Irradiation
- use of sewage sludge
- use of farmland that has been free from chemicals for at least three years or more
- keeping detailed written production and sales records
- maintaining strict physical separation of organic products from non-certified organic products
- undergoing periodic on-site inspections
Fruits & Vegetables
Pure soil grows nutrient-rich food rich in natural disease-fighting compounds.
Dairy
Organic milk comes from cows raised on grain that has not been genetically altered and feed containing no animal byproducts. Organic milk has higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which boost health and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and higher levels of vitamin E and other antioxidants, as well as healthy minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium and chromium.
Meats
Animals raised organically do not feed on genetically altered grains or on land treated with chemicals. “Organic” guarantees a product free of hormones and antibiotics.