How to Buy Organic
You will need to do a bit of homework to have a general understanding of the labeling on organic foods, but here are a few to get you started.
100% Organic. Exclusively organic ingredients or single-ingredient products like eggs, fruit or vegetables.
Organic. 95% of the product is made of organic ingredients (excluding salt and water).
Made with organic ingredients. Ingredients are 70 to 95% organic; organic ingredients are specified on the label.
Natural. This does not mean organic; natural simply means that there are no artifical flavors, colors or preservatives in that product and that it is minimally processed. All produce and one-ingredient items like eggs, beef and chicken are "natural", so this means almost nothing.
"Free range" does not equate to organic. Usually used for poultry or eggs, this label means that chickens have some ability to roam. This does not necessarily indicate outdoor pasture.
"Hormone-free" does not mean organic. The animals were not given hormones, like growth hormones; this usually applies to dairy cows, cattle and pigs.
Local. Always try to buy foods that have traveled the shortest distance. The shorter the distance, the better the food will taste.
