Good or Bad: Organic Labeling

Alexandria Goodman '25

While many believe the food label “organic” only refers to foods that use minimal synthetic materials, it also refers to foods that claim to foster resource cycling, promote ecological balance, maintain and improve soil and water quality, and conserve ecological biodiversity. With the increased use of GMOs in food production, many consumers are considering buying organic foods to incorporate into their diets. 

 The National Organic Program, a subset of the USDA, oversees the use of the label and enforces the standards for crops, livestock, and agricultural products in general. Organic crops must be sprayed with natural fertilizers and farmers must protect the soil; Organic livestock must roam freely outdoors and can’t consume growth hormones or antibiotics; Organic products can not contain any GMOs or artificial colors/preservatives. The organic food label carries merit and allows consumers to feel more comfortable making healthy and environmentally conscious decisions. 

Many believe organic produce is grown without pesticides; technically, this is false. Organic produce has lower levels of pesticide residue in general compared to nonorganic produce. They may be sprayed with natural pesticides and a few synthetic pesticides used specifically for organic farming; however, this happens rarely and the farmer must contact a USDA organic certifying agent should they choose this method. Farmers commonly use insects or insect traps and rotate plants regularly to control pests. Organic food critics claim that organic produce isn’t healthier than conventional produce. The science community is divided on this topic, with the UK Consumers’ Association reporting that studies investigating the link between health and organic food have not reached a consensus. However, studies have shown a moderate increase in some nutrients in organic produce – like antioxidants. Additionally, organic grains have shown much lower levels of cadmium – a toxic metal.  

Although many consumers want to start buying organic food, some are worried about the potential price increase associated with the switch from regular. In an ERS study, researchers discovered that all organic products were more costly than their conventional counterparts and that the premium was 20% higher. In 2010, the prices for 17 organic foods were on average 7% higher than regular prices for spinach and 82% for eggs. This price increase can be justified as the time and effort to grow organic food greatly outweigh that of nonorganic food. Regardless, organic products are more expensive. 

As stated before, the National Organic Program oversees the organic food label. As a result, they are hyperspecific about what each organic-orientated label means. There are differences between “100% organic,” “organic,” and “made with organic” labels. The 100% organic label is used for any products made with all-natural ingredients excluding water and salt. The organic label is used for products that, at minimum, contain 95% organic ingredients. The five or below percentage of ingredients must be on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances for organic organizations. The “made with organic” label is used for products that contain at least 70% organically produced ingredients with detailed constraints for the nonorganic ingredients. The National Organic Program also mandates that organic products can not contain any GMOs or utilize genetic engineering. Farmers must show proof to the USDA that they aren’t using GMOs and are protecting their food from GMO contamination. Any operation proved to use GMOs or other prohibited substances faces loss of certification and fines. 

In conclusion, the organic food label holds more substance than the myriad of food labels available on the market. It protects buyers from foods containing GMOs and could potentially indicate health benefits. Organic foods have been shown to help improve farming conditions and the environment around them. There are different types of organic foods, each with their own specifications (100% organic, organic, and made with organic ingredients.) While the price of organic foods may be too expensive for some, it is ultimately up to each shopper to decide if organic food is something they want to implement into their diets. 

Citations

Barnes, Robin
How Organic Food Works
https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/organic-food6.htm#:~:text=Production%20costs%20for%20organic%20foods,to%20lower%20the%20overall%20cost. 

Beaton, Kelly
February 8, 2024
Organic Growth Continues, Even Admidst Inflation.
https://foodinstitute.com/focus/organic-food-sales/ 

Carlson, Andrea
May 24, 2016
Investigating Retail Price Premiums for Organic Foods
https://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2016/may/investigating-retail-price-premiums-for-organic-foods 

July 22, 2016
Understanding the USDA organic label
 https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/blog/understanding-usda-organic-label 

May 17, 2013
Organic 101: Can GMOs Be Used in Organic Products
https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/blog/organic-101-can-gmos-be-used-organic-products#:~:text=Any%20certified%20organic%20operation%20found,USDA%20organic%20regulations%20for%20GMOs 

n.d. About organic labeling
https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/organic/labeling 

n.d. Organic Foods: Are they safer? Are they nutritious?
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/organic-food/art-20043880 

n.d.Organic Regulations
https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/organic#:~:text=The%20National%20Organic%20Program%20(NOP,of%20all%20USDA%20organic%20products. 
 
n.d. USDA Certified Organic: Understanding the Basics
https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/organic-certification/organic-basics#:~:text=Organic%20is%20a%20label%20that,biodiversity%2C%20and%20preserve%20ecological%20balance. 

October 17, 2018. The Pros and Cons of Organic Food
https://www.realbuzz.com/articles-interests/nutrition/article/the-pros-and-cons-of-organic-food#:~:text=Organic%20food%20may%20go%20'off,the%20use%20of%20any%20chemicals.