What do the food labels such as “organic,” “natural,” “free-range,” and “non-GMO” really mean? Understanding this terminology is essential when you’re shopping for organic foods.

The most important point to remember is that “natural” does not equal organic. “Natural” is an unregulated term that can be applied by anyone. Only the “USDA Organic” label indicates that a food is certified organic.
USDA Certified Organic Food Labels

When you’re shopping for organic foods, look for the “USDA Organic” seal. Only foods that are 95 to 100 percent organic can use the USDA Organic label.

* 100% Organic – Foods that are completely organic or made with 100% organic ingredients. May display the USDA seal.
* Organic – Foods that contain at least 95% organic ingredients. May display the USDA seal.
* Made with organic ingredients – Foods that contain at least 70% organic ingredients. Will not display the USDA seal. May list specific organic ingredients on the front of the package.
* Contains organic ingredients – Foods that contain less than 70% organic ingredients. Will not display the USDA seal. May list specific organic ingredients on the information panel of the package.

Meat and dairy labels: other terms you need to know

The organic label is the most regulated term, but when it comes to meat, we often see many other terms used. In order to make informed choices, it is helpful to know what some of these terms mean.

* Natural – This label means “minimally processed” and that the meat can’t have any artificial colors, artificial flavors, preservatives, or any other artificial ingredients in it. Animals can still be given antibiotics or growth enhancers. For example, this term can be applied to all raw cuts of beef since they aren’t processed.
* Grass fed – This term means that the animals are fed solely on a diet of grass or hay. These animals have access to the outdoors. Cattle are naturally ruminants that eat grass, so they tend to be healthier and leaner when fed this way. In addition, grass fed beef has been shown to have more of the healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
* Free-range – This means that the animals weren’t confined to a cage and had access to the outdoors. Unfortunately, the animal density can still be very high and the animals may have only short periods outside in an area that’s quite small. It is difficult to tell exactly what free-range means when you see it on meat packaging. You can contact the producer directly for clarification.
* No Hormones added – This term is allowed when animals are raised without the use of any added growth hormones. For beef and dairy products it can be helpful, but by law, poultry and pigs cannot be given hormones, so don’t pay extra for chicken or pork products that use this label.

New Hope Natural Media and a division of Penton Media Inc. announced the sixth annual Natural Products Expo Asia and set new attendance and exhibition records. The 2008 tradeshow and conference was held in June at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center. The event showcased more than 10,000 natural, organic and eco-products in the industry’s largest event in Asia.
Exhibitors came from Hong Kong, Mainland China, Taiwan Korea, Canada, U.S. Japan, Argentina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, Philippines, New Zealand, India and Sri Lanka. The floor space also expanded and reflecting a growing range of product offerings including natural and organic food and beverages.
The top ten attendee countries were Korea, Taiwan, Mainland China, Philippines, Malaysia, U.S., Thailand, Japan, Singapore and Australia. The event received U.S. Department of Commerce certification and as well as support from the Organic Food Development Centre Ministry of Environmental Protection, Nippon Pharmacy Association, Korea Health Supplement Association and Austrade. The seventh annual Natural Products Expo Asia will be held next June 25-27, 2009 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center.
Penton Media, Inc. is the largest independent business-to-business media company in the U.S. and serving more than six million business professionals every month. The company’s market-leading brands are focused on 30 industries and include 113 trade magazines, 145 Web sites, 150 industry trade shows and conferences and more than 500 information data products.

Wal-Mart and Fred Meyer which owns Kroger are among the big names that carry certified organic versions of shopping cart staples from meat, milk, cookies and crackers and everything in between. Organic food once was the domain of specialty grocery stores but big chains are getting into organic in a big way.
Donna Eggers a spokeswoman for Albertsons which operates stores in much of the West Coast said supermarkets now account for more than 60 percent of the organic food market. Fred Meyer spokeswoman said “People are trying to eat healthier, or watching what they feed their family. It’s a huge growth area for us.” Despite recent setbacks tied to the economy. Spokeswoman also said “It’s becoming a mainstream.”
Whole Foods has seen its income and stock value plummet this year U.S. organic food sales are projected to reach an all-time high of $23 billion in 2008 and continue increasing 18 percent a year through 2010 according to the Organic Trade Association.
Prices for organic items can be double or more for conventional brands. As the organic food market continues to grow, stores and manufacturers are starting to court shoppers with more affordable price. Organics products are still a hard to sell, especially in a stagnant economy where people are responding to rising gas and food prices.
Fred Meyer and Albertsons sell organic under their own store brands and the prices are generally 10 cents to $1 higher. Though instances are rare, organic products are sometimes the same price or even less than non-organic products.

Tracey Smith the founder of International Downshifting Week and author of The Book of Rubbish Ideas is licking her lips in anticipation of this year’s Organic Food Festival in Bristol this coming September 6 – 7 September. This is set in Bristol’s famous harbor side it is Europe’s largest celebration of all things organic, incorporating bustling food markets, very best organic food, drink, fashion, skincare and home ware products, the green planet pavilion, a talks program, a kitchen demonstration, food cruises around the harbor and an arts and entertainment.
Neal’s Yard Remedies have their dedicated skincare marquee with an area set aside to offer visitors a mini vitality MOT. This year Neal’s Yard Remedies will be hosting a special talks and workshop area on their stand, there will be practical talks on anti-aging through to the natural approach for mothers and babies.
With Organix sponsoring the Children’s Zone and such delights as the Food for Life Cookery Bus and the Whole Earth Food Trail. Wander into the fashion and textile marquee and see how a sheep’s fleece is turned into a garment. Cornish Organic Wool is supplying organic fleece from Bosigran Farm, Zennor as recent winner at The Royal Cornwall Show in the fleece competition which will be carded, spun and knitted by Spinning Weal from Clevedon.

Evidence show that the organic market has suffered its sharpest fall and UK’s biggest grocers will try to reinvigorate sales of organic food. According to TNS a market research firm organic eggs sales tumbled to 18 percent in the four weeks to 10, customers opted for cheaper, low cost free range products. Big UK grocer admitted that sales of organic food were flat.
Supermarket chains including the Co-operative Group, Asda, Sainsbury and Waitrose will release a series of promotions during the Soil Association’s Organic Fortnight, this runs for two weeks from 6th of September. These chains will also focus on promoting basic brands as evidence emerges that consumers are now favoring cheaper, low cost produce.
Asda will release promotions in many categories, including price rollbacks on everyday items and food sampling across 250 stores. The chain claims to have avoided a fall in organic sales. Waitrose had seen a change in the type of organic products being bought “Value conscious customers are focusing their organic spend on areas they feel are the most important. This dovetails with increasing concerns about animal welfare,” a spokeswoman said. Waitrose is also introducing promotions for Organic Fortnight.
The organic food home delivery specialist, managing director of Abel & Cole Duncan Gibson, admitted the market was slowing but said the internet retailer was still growing sales strongly. The firm runs a 20 percent price promotion on most lines from middle September and on track to grow total sales by 25 percent this year. The Co-op’s price promotion is cutting 20 percent on organic produce.