17 eco-food labels decoded
Consumers who need guidance deciphering all the seals, certifications and claims on food packaging can find some answers in MNN's Food Label Guide.
Photo: AtnoYdur/iStockphoto 
What it means: The Non-GMO Project’s seal verifies that products have been “produced according to rigorous best practices for GMO avoidance,” including testing of all GMO risk ingredients. The Project’s current action threshold for testing is 0.9%, which is on par with the European Union standards. While final products don’t have to be tested and the label doesn’t guarantee a product is 100 percent GMO-free, you can be sure that products bearing the seal have met the highest standards possible for non-GMO, including testing, traceability, and segregation.
What it means: A third-party verified seal: No hormones, non-therapeutic antibiotics or genetically modified crops or livestock are used and pesticide use must be reduced. Plus, farmers and ranchers must provide fair and safe working conditions, ensure humane care of animals and protect soil, water and wildlife habitat.
Soil Association Certified Organic
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Comments
I took a field trip to my local corporate organic grocery store(EarthFare), and I only came across 2 of these labels: fair trade & USDA Organic.
Regardless, it's great that all of these labels are on the market. Consumers are now able to make more informed decisions on what they are putting into their bodies.
I must appreciate Mother Earth for posting this list. The work Julie has done is welcome and helps bring this issue to the forefront not all labels are the same. As big business sees the value in them, compromise will likely occur and in some already is. It is a privilege to be posted on your site, two quick comments if I may.
1. AWA is independently audited and we carry out the audits for free. We are a not for profit and you cannot buy your way in ever. We also carry out the Audits.... More
Corrections/clarifications:
USDA Certified Organic also prohibits the use of almost all non-organic ingredients, even in a 95% or 99% USDA organic ingredient product, and has a "made with" option for 70% organic ingredients. It does govern some animal care practices such as pasture time required for cattle. It is also seen on body care.
Rainforest Alliance and TransFair Fair Trade Certified are both seen on more products than those listed
TransFair Fair Trade Certified does not.... More
Having recently just watched the documentary " Food, Inc." this was a timely article for me. Thank you for providing this very helpful information. I only wish I could print this off to take with me when I shop.
Check these articles out! http://bit.ly/90o1nR http://bit.ly/5k2FIl
Enter your comments here After raising poultry for over 50 years and seeing what people think is good for poultry is just not right. I raise only standard bred poultry and have all my life. Calling something organic does not change the genetics of the birds. All the feed range meat birds being raising are still the same genetically engineered birds that all factory farms raise. Birds that grow 300 times faster then the old heritage breeds. Birds that can not fly, run, roost at night and.... More
Enter your comments here Your site won't let me print this out !! I want to send this to my Mother who doesn't have a computer. HELP
gpetersen3@verizon.net
I've never seen most of these before, and you're missing the things I do see like Certified Organic By Oregon Tilth etc.
What about the label certified humane which is what I look for when buying cage free eggs? I too try and buy most of my meat from a local farm where I know how the animals are treated.
you do know that chicken that are cages vs free range are both inhumane. Yes, they might be caged free, however they are with hundreds of other chickens, were they still can't even spread their wings and are still pumped with the anitbotics and are in a barn with no natural sunlight, etc. Free range chickens are still treated inhumanely
...how reputable are these labels? Can you buy your way into it? Are some of them just corporate fronts? Is anyone monitoring these? Here's what i do: I grow what food I can...and then I get to know the farmers who supply the rest of what I eat....
We're tracking these labels online at www.ecolabelling.org. Questions welcome. Thanks! Jacob.
Incredibly helpful...so that's what all those labels mean! LOL
