Did you ever imagine living in a world where you go to a grocery store and spend more time reading labels than you do putting items in your shopping cart? We are not just talking about nutrition labels, like fat, sodium, sugar, and carbohydrate content. We have gone even crazier yet necessary with the labels on products. There are catchy labels on pretty much everything, even some produce! It can be a bit overwhelming; the eggs say "free-range," cheese says "organic," and snacks read "all-natural." That is why I thought I would take the time to crack the code behind the terms used on our popular food labels and share the most important ones, so hopefully, you can shop smarter, take less time, and eat healthier.
Organic: Anything that has an "Organic" label should also be attached to "USDA" or "Certified Organic" labels. This means the ingredients within the product must be 95% or more certified organic. They are free of synthetic additives such as pesticides, dyes, herbicides, growth hormones, and chemical fertilizers. Keep in mind small farming operations can't always afford to go through the expensive process of becoming certified by the USDA as organic. So your favorite farmstand at your local farmers market might not be able to claim that they are "organic" even if they don't use pesticides, dyes, etc.
Made with organic ingredients: If a product has this label, it means that it is made with a minimum of 70% of organic ingredients. The remaining 30% must contain no GMOs, along with a few other restricted chemicals and preservatives.
When a label says "Natural," it only means the product doesn't include synthetic or artificial ingredients.
Non-GMO: The "Non-GMO Project" label states that a product doesn't contain genetically modified ingredients or has less than 0.9% GMOs. But no-GMO doesn't necessarily mean "organic," so foods with only these labels could also have synthetic pesticides and roundup herbicides.
Sustainable: You will usually find the "Sustainable" sticker on seafood products. It means a fish is an abundant species, and it was caught in an environmentally friendly way.
This label and certification are provided by the Marine Stewardship Council and go through similar testing as getting the organic label. It is all about keeping the supply of fish in abundance and not overfishing areas or species.
Gluten-Free: Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and bi-products. An autoimmune illness called Celiac disease exists in 1 in 200 people and causes major digestive issues. It causes the digestive system to see wheat as an invader. The immune system starts to attack. The GF label is primarily for Celiac sufferers and those with a wheat allergy. When a product is gluten-free, it typically means it is not made with any wheat, barley, or rye.
Local: The "Local" label is an interesting one because there is no standardized way to determine what is and isn't local. Companies can consider themselves local, even if they're within the same state. For example, think about the size of California; it's enormous! We know that's not a great measure of what would be considered local. Now, if we are talking about Rhode Island, that could be a different story. If you are a fan of the produce aisle like myself, think about this if I am purchasing lemons shipped from California to Florida. That's a hike for the lemons, then they sit in the store and then maybe hang at home for another day or two until I am ready to use them. From the moment the lemon is picked, it starts losing its nutritional value. That's why they say fresh is best!
Free-range: Free-range chickens are given time outside a cage. The time varies by the producer. Some chickens have been raised in a free-range production and spend hours roaming outside. Others may get only 20 minutes. If you are looking to shop ethically and want to buy only poultry or eggs that have led a life outside a cage, "Pasture- Raised" is the gold star for humane animal treatment. In my personal opinion, pasture-raised eggs might cost a little more, but they are the healthier option for you and taste better too!
We have to be detectives when we grocery shop! Protect your body! After all, you are what you eat!
Warmly,
Samantha
Owner of Purify An Urban Sweat Lodge
www.purifysweatlodge.com @purifysweatlodge
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