We see buzzwords and labels all the time- organic, natural, fairtrade, ethically sourced and so on. But what do they really mean? Here are listed these typical labels and what they really mean.
Faritrade- Fairtrade is about improving quality of life and working conditions for workers and farmers all over the world. A product that is Fair Trade Certified is produced using standards that attempt to "promote safe, healthy working conditions, protect the environment, enable transparency, and empower communities to build strong, thriving businesses."
Organic- Generally, an organic product is one made/ raised without man-made pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, growth regulators, livestock feed additives, antibiotics or GMOs. A product labeled as USDA Certified Organic meets all USDA requirements for being an organic product. The USDA has strict standards for how organic products must be raised/ produced and handled.
GMO- free- GMOs, or genetically modified organisms are plants that have been genetically altered by humans for a variety of reasons, usually to make them hardier. A GMO-free product must be certified by the Non-GMO Project, an organization dedicated to make available non-GMO products to the public. GMO-free Certified producers must be able to verify that they can keep separate their crop from GMO products to avoid contamination and trace back their supply to GMO-free sources.
Certified Humane- Certified Humane products are animal products (meat, dairy or eggs) that are produced by treating the animals with a higher level of consideration for their health, well-being and happiness. Certified Humane producers follow strict standards for slaughter, living conditions, medical treatment, and nutrition.
Ethically Sourced, Sustainable, Eco-Friendly, Natural, Farm Fresh- These are all somewhat up to interpretation and there is no one standard to measure them by. It is best if these are certified by organizations so you can look up their standards online.
Faritrade- Fairtrade is about improving quality of life and working conditions for workers and farmers all over the world. A product that is Fair Trade Certified is produced using standards that attempt to "promote safe, healthy working conditions, protect the environment, enable transparency, and empower communities to build strong, thriving businesses."
Organic- Generally, an organic product is one made/ raised without man-made pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, growth regulators, livestock feed additives, antibiotics or GMOs. A product labeled as USDA Certified Organic meets all USDA requirements for being an organic product. The USDA has strict standards for how organic products must be raised/ produced and handled.
GMO- free- GMOs, or genetically modified organisms are plants that have been genetically altered by humans for a variety of reasons, usually to make them hardier. A GMO-free product must be certified by the Non-GMO Project, an organization dedicated to make available non-GMO products to the public. GMO-free Certified producers must be able to verify that they can keep separate their crop from GMO products to avoid contamination and trace back their supply to GMO-free sources.
Certified Humane- Certified Humane products are animal products (meat, dairy or eggs) that are produced by treating the animals with a higher level of consideration for their health, well-being and happiness. Certified Humane producers follow strict standards for slaughter, living conditions, medical treatment, and nutrition.
Ethically Sourced, Sustainable, Eco-Friendly, Natural, Farm Fresh- These are all somewhat up to interpretation and there is no one standard to measure them by. It is best if these are certified by organizations so you can look up their standards online.