What are the Organic Food Standards?


Defined Tag: Organic Food Standards.

Organic food standards are defined differently in each and every country per the different rules and regulations set about by that company’s organic food association. In order for a food to be marketed as organic, it must first be certified organic by that country’s organic food governing body. In the United States, the National Organic Program set the standards for organic food, in Canada, the Canada Gazette and the Government of Canada set the organic food standards, in the United Kingdom, the Organic Famers and Growers Organic Standards and the Soil Association determine whether or not a food is organic, and in Australia, the NASAA Organic Standard is the body that defines organic foods.

Although the standards for organic foods are determined by the National Organic Program Standards in the United States, the United States Department of Agriculture makes the final determination about whether or not a food can be classified as organic. As part of the Organic Food Production Act, the USDA is required to examine each and every organic food production facility as well as how organic the food is. At the end of the process, the USDA assigns a USDA Organic seal only to those organic products which are comprised of at least ninety five percent organic ingredients.

The standards required for organic food in America are lengthy, and can be accessed at the National Organic Programs website at www.ams.usda.gov/nop/NOP/standards.html#, but include some of the following. First, a product must have a minimal use of toxic chemicals in it, including but not limited to pesticides and artificial fertilizers. Also, there should be no genetically modified organisms present in any organic foods. Furthermore, there should be little or no amount of food additives or food coloring present in the manufacture of organic products. Only when these organic food standards, and the standards not listed here, are met can a product be certified organic in the United States.