Producers will have a year to comply with the changes.
Currently, there are 100% organic or organic labels, which both require certification.
However, products labeled organic may contain 5% non-certified organic materials.
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If the product says made with organic, only 70% of the ingredients must be organic.
Products marked with organic ingredients do not require certification or a minimum amount of organic ingredients.
Experts say knowing where your food comes from can inform whether the product you buy is truly organic.
Generally, you could trust the organic food labels on grocery store shelves.
Is Organic Food More Nutritious Than Conventional Food?
A new study published in theEuropean Journal of Epidemiologyalso found no correlation between organic diets and lower cancer risk.
The organic rule didnt come about from a human health need.
The origins of organic agriculture are ecological, Curl said.
Some people purchase organic products to avoid pesticides, not because they believe organic is more nutritious.
The real exposure risk is for farmworkers and the communities that live nearby.
Regular exposure to pesticides can contribute to headaches, nausea, birth defects, and cancer.
Thats not happening when were not using synthetic pesticides.
So for me personally, the ecological reasons and the farmworkers health reasons influence my purchasing habits.
But we never want people to be worried and not eat fruits and vegetables.
What This Means For You
New USDA regulations will help make the organic label even more trustworthy.
U. S. Department of Agriculture.About organic labeling.
International Federation for Produce Standards.IFPS PLU codes users guide for produce industry.
2023;38(1):59-69. doi:10.1007/s10654-022-00951-9
Environmental Protection Agency.Food and pesticides.
Marcelino AF, Wachtel CC, Ghisi NC.Are our farm workers in danger?
Genetic damage in farmers exposed to pesticides.Int J Environ Res Public Health.
2019;16(3):358. doi:10.3390/ijerph16030358
