What Is Organic, Exactly?
The USDA states that the goal of organic foods and organic farming is to "integrate cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity."
Put simply, if you see the "USDA Organic" or "Certified Organic" seal on your food, the item must have an ingredients list and the contents should be 95% or more certified organic, meaning free of synthetic additives like pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and dyes, and must not be processed using industrial solvents, irradiation, or genetic engineering, according to the USDA. The remaining 5% may only be foods or processed with additives on an approved list.
"Certified Organic" isn't the only label you'll see though. You may also see "100% organic," which means all of the ingredients must meet the guidelines above, or "made with organic," which means that the ingredients must contain 70% or more organic ingredients, the USDA seal cannot be used anywhere on the package, and the remaining 30% of the ingredients may not be foods or processed with additives on a special exclusion list.
Violations of the USDA's organic labeling rules can earn companies civil penalties of up to $11,000. If that seems small, it should. The low penalties and the volume of organic products flooding the markets have led to skepticism that the USDA is properly enforcing the label, inspecting foods, and punishing violators. Some worry that "organic" has turned into a marketing term withlittle meaning. Still, when you buy organic goods at most stores and from most known brands, you can be largely sure that it meets the guidelines.
We've tackled this topic in detail before, and for more information on the USDA's organic labeling program, check out this fact sheet, the full federal regulations for organic terminology, or visit the USDA's organic certification portal. If you're not in the United States, the Organic Certification wikipedia page has information on how the certification varies from region to region.
Refer From:http://lifehacker.com/5941881/what-does-organic-really-mean-and-should-i-buy-it
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