How do i know if a product is certified as an organically produced product?

In the “Organic” category, the product and ingredients must be certified as organic, except when specified in the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. I agree that it's always good to ask questions. Retailers must know their suppliers and be able to demonstrate organic certification to the purchaser. Finally, anyone can search for a product or company in the USDA's organic integrity database to confirm certification.

Organic producers rely as much as possible on natural substances and cultivation methods that are physically, mechanically or biologically based. The USDA organic seal is one way to know if a product is certified organic, but be careful because the seal is optional and not required on certified organic products. Once a certification body has verified compliance with organic standards, the product receives a label. Products labeled “100% organic” must contain only organically produced ingredients and processing aids, excluding water and salt.

You can search for the identity of the certifier on a packaged product to verify that the organic product meets USDA organic standards. Familiarizing themselves with the USDA organic label and understanding its claims allows consumers to make informed choices about the food they buy. Like other organic products, processed products labeled as “made with organic _______” cannot be produced by any process prohibited by the NOP. Products can be called organic if it is certified that they grew in soil to which no prohibited substances were applied during the three years prior to harvest.

For example, a soup made with at least 70% organic ingredients and only organic vegetables can say “soup made with organic peas, potatoes and carrots” or “soup made with organic vegetables”. While the labels of some organic products may also indicate that they are gluten-free or kosher, these statements are independent of any organic certification statement on the label. Certified organic products are those that have been produced, stored, processed, manipulated and marketed according to precise technical specifications (standards) and certified as organic by a certification body. Processed products that contain at least 70% organic ingredients can indicate “made with organic products” (insert up to three ingredients, food groups, or a combination of ingredients and food groups) on the main panel of the screen.

This label will vary depending on the certification body, but can be interpreted as a guarantee that the essential elements that constitute an organic product are met from farm to market. Products that meet any of these labeling requirements can display these phrases, as well as the percentage of organic content, in the main product display panel.