ArticleZones.com » Food-and-drink » What Makes Organic Food, Organic?
View PDF | Print View
Article By: MarthaStandwood
Total views: 15
Word Count: 447
What Makes Organic Food, Organic?
To be called Organic Food, the food has to pass a standard set by the FDA. These standards include things like - it has to be grown without the use of chemicals or the livestock must be raised without the use of growth hormones and antibiotics. The list goes on.
What are some requirements for organic food?
Because the demand for organic food has risen, the government has stepped in to make sure no one is needlessly dying. They've given out a standard saying that organic food must be pesticide and chemical fertilizer free, among other things.
Every part of the process has to meet stringent criteria to earn the certification, starting from when the seeds start growing to how they're handled, even until the time they reach the consumers.
Before a product can be called a certified organic food, any business directly involved in the food's production process has to be certified. This includes the seed providers, farmers, the companies that process the food, even the food retailers and restaurants.
Something worth taking note here: these standards differ by country. Just because a certain practice is allowed in the United States, it doesn't mean the same applies to different countries.
In essence, when a food product is grown and delivered without the presence of synthetic products, chemicals, pesticides, and artificial growth hormones, during any stage of the production, the food product can safely be labeled an organic food. Imagine if sewer sludge were used as fertilizer; certainly, that would exempt the food from being called organic.
Participants Must Prove Themselves
Companies that are involved in the supply chain hoping to remain certified organic food providers must maintain meticulous records of the products' production and sales. In addition, records must be kept for any equipment that is used in their manufacturing process. They're also required to maintain a solid border between organic growing areas and those that are not going to used for certified organic food.
Furthermore, there can be nothing used in the fields for organic products that would violate any step of the certified organic food process. The fields usually must be used without chemical additives for a certain number of years. The number is usually around three but it varies by country.
Of course, the land used are subject to periodic inspection to maintain the status of a certified organic food producer.
Although the process is cumbersome, it grants the user certification of organic food provider, an edge in some marketplaces, for the demand for organic food products have risen due to growing awareness on healthy lifestyles.
Article Source: ArticleZones.com
About the Author
If you're searching for organic stores in nyc, or more detailed organic info, check out my organic blog!
Comments
No comments posted.Add Comment
You do not have permission to comment. If you log in, you will be able to comment.More articles in this Category
1. Adopt A Vegetarian Food Pyramid2. Simple Steps To Becoming A Vegetarian
3. What Vegetarian Nutrients Are Needed
4. What Makes Organic Food, Organic?
5. Choosing a Tea Pot is Lots of Fun