"Organic" = good, "Natural" = useless
Here’s the rundown:
USDA organic seal= Let’s start with the big one—organic. Certified by the United States Department of Agriculture, “organic” is a label with layers. This umbrella term certifies that any animals used for meat were not fed antibiotics, hormones, and that produce was grown without pesticides and in a manner consistent with sustainable soil practices. It’s considered one of the most meaningful labels you can purchase. Hooray, organic!
However, it doesn’t address issues of humane animal husbandry—meaning even “organic” eggs may come from chickens which never see the sun.
All natural= Conversely, “natural” is considered one of the least meaningful labels.
Completely unregulated, any claims of “natural” should be regarded with skepticism. Corn syrup, sodium, and even many preservatives are technically “natural”—but that doesn’t make them healthy.
Cage Free/Free Range= Boo, cage free! Boo, free range! These are both terms with no backing, no verification, and almost no meaning. [See info here]
Instead of these meaningless labels, look for…
Certified Humane= …this label! Unlike “cage free” or even “humanely-raised” (which sounds similar but is also meaningless, by the way), Certified Humane is a great label that’s highly regarded and pretty widely respected.
Certified Humane eggs, dairy, and meat products come from animals with ample roaming space, who have generally lead pretty awesome lives and were slaughtered or gathered in humane ways.
Grass-fed= Probably one of the most popular—and most potentially bogus—terms of the last few years, “grass-fed” beef is often subject to some elementary school logic. That is, if growers feed the cattle just a tiny bit of grass, they can call it “grass-fed.” There’s no additional ruling beyond that.
Look for that “certified humane” label, or “vegetarian-fed” (which is actually quite meaningful) instead.
Food Alliance Certified= If you see this label, you know you’re in good hands. The FA label has 5 standard areas, including guidelines for conservation and animal welfare (which Consumer Reports calls “highly comprehensive”). This is a very socially-conscious, awesome label. Buy things with this label. Give this label a hug
This is very helpful - and answered my “vegetarian-fed” question! I didn’t even have to go looking farther than the first tumblr page for the “paleo” tag.
