As consumer concerns regarding the content of their food, food packaging, and household items continue to rise, the organic market share continues to grow.
The International Food Information Council Foundation’s 2015 Food and Health Survey found that 36% of the over 1000 people surveyed expressed significant regarding the content and handling of their food.
Consumers’ desire to avoid pesticides, animal antibiotics, and allergens in the food supply also led 45% of those with the concern to change their purchasing habits, according to the IFICF’s report.
According to a Consumer Reports survey, 85% of more than 1,000 responders were concerned about pesticide residue on fruits and vegetables.
According to the Organic Trade Association, 51% of families are buying more organic products than in 2014 and 8 in 10 parents choose organic food for their families.
Produce
USDA certified organic produce is grown in accordance with a strict set of guidelines which protect the environment, natural resources, animal health and welfare, do not use GMO or synthetic ingredients, are subject to annual inspections and maintain separate storage and handling for organic and non-organic items. Organic producers are allowed limited use of designated pesticides for their crops and non-homeopathic treatments for livestock.
Labelling allows consumers to identify organically grown produce.
Certified organic produce often bears the green and white USDA certified organic label. In the absence of this label, the coded labels on fruits and vegetables indicate how they were grown. The label codes on organically grown fruits and vegetables begin with the number four.
Grains And Flours
Grains and flours are available as organic. The National Organic Program develops the rules & regulations for the production, handling, labelling, and enforcement of grains and flours like it does for all USDA organic products. Like produce, in order for grains and flour made from them to be certified organic, the grower and manufacturer must follow strict guidelines to be able to carry the certified organic label on their product.
Beverages
Organic beverages must meet NOP standards of certification and labelling. They may be labelled as 100% Organic (95 to 99% organic ingredients) or made with organic ingredients (contains at least 70% organic ingredients). Beverages containing less than 70% organic ingredients may only make clearly labelled organic claims.
Cleaning Products
The chemicals in cleaning products are some of the strongest and harshest, ever felt nauseated, or had a sinus reaction after using bleach or a toilet cleaner.
The only way to obtain truly organic cleaning products is to make them. Many old cleaning recipes employing vinegar, baking soda, lemons, hydrogen peroxide, and borax may be discovered on the internet and in libraries.
However, several green product brands exist as well for people who prefer ready-made cleaning products. The USDA offers a “List of Certified USDA Organic Operations” to ensure you choose cleaners that meet organic standards.
Beauty Products
The cosmetic industry is one of the least regulated as far as what is put into the products it produces.
- 82,000 ingredients are used in personal care products.
- one out of every eight of these products is an industrial chemical.
- Cosmetic products do not face testing requirements before going to market.
- Many personal care product ingredients have not been evaluated for safety by the FDA.
60% of what is placed on the skin is absorbed into the bloodstream.
Beauty products claiming natural and organic ingredients fill department store and drug store shelves. Consumers need to closely read labels and look for the USDA organic label as well as the USDA labelling requirements if its seal is not readily apparent. The product may very well be third party certified using USDA guidelines. The USDA “List of Certified USDA Organic Operations” also serves as an excellent reference for these types of products.
USDA organic certification for some types of cosmetics is possible, though many brands will only qualify for the “made with organic ingredient” label.
When choosing organic products, read the labels carefully and do your research. Also, be aware of any allergies you may have; all natural may not be better for you and your specific health status.
Your lifestyle also influences your ability to adopt organic options. Organic options tend to have shorter shelf lives and focus more on health than convenience.
Textiles & Fibres
Organic textiles and natural fibre products include cotton, wool, flax, and even hemp, which are used to make bed linens, furniture, clothing and much more. Few organic textile processing and manufacturing standards exist, and NOP standards apply only to fibres and not off-farm treatment of the raw fibres or the actual end products they create.
Toys
More and more parents are concerned with the toys their children play with, as they want to minimize and eliminate all possible exposure to chemicals and unnatural elements. Organic toys are usually plush toys that are made with certified organic cotton and wool materials.
Some companies are making organic play dough and paints, but getting certification for such products is difficult even when organic materials are used in their production because there are no clear certification standards in place.
Seeds & Gardening Supplies
Seeds and various other garden supplies are eligible for organic certification, and they are highly in demand for home gardens, community gardens, landscaping business and much more. Seeds, bulbs, plant starters, trees, vegetables, flowers, weed killers, fertilizers are eligible for USDA organic certification, and many are already approved and listed on the National List.
Pet Food & Pet Products
The organic pet food market is growing by as much as 15% each year, and besides food, pet owners are buying organic pet toys and pet beds. Requirements for organic pet food are similar to requirements for livestock, read the Organic Pet Food Task Force formal organic pet food recommendations report to learn more.
Photo by THE ORGANIC CRAVE Ⓡ on Unsplash
