But, if you still have lingering questions, as always we encourage you to leave them in the comments and we’d be happy to help answer them. The NSF Organic certification mirrors the USDA Organic Certification in most aspects, however the "made with" category differs slightly in the allowance of several processes and ingredients that are currently banned by the USDA, including certain synthetic preservatives and biodegradable surfactants. As per the manufacturers, you need to consume it for at least three weeks to see the results. Feeling a bit more informed about organic labels? Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Misconception: Oregon Tilth Organic, etc, is better than USDA Organic Oregon Tilth, QAI, etc are all third-party certifiers under the National Organic Program. FREE GROUND SHIPPING IN THE CONTIGUOUS US WITH A BEAUTY PURCHASE. The guiding principles of the NSF organic standard are parallel to those of the USDA organic standard, but are focused on the unique requirements of personal care product formulations. Regulations do not address food safety or nutrition. Oregon Tilth is one of the biggest USDA NOP accredited certifiers (the USDA oversees the regulations, but does not actually have any direct interaction with growers or producers). Once you have finalized your label composition, submit it to OTCO for review and approval. Here are a few of the standards they certify for: Since 1944, NSF has been a leading agency developing a wide range of public health standards and certification programs that help protect the world’s food, water, consumer products and environment. For other label claims, you’ll need to calculate your product’s percentage of organic content . This site contains the opinions and views of others and does not represent the opinions and views of The Honest Company. If you’ve been following along very closely, you’ll noticed that up above we said that all organic products had to meet the USDA standards, but then there seems to be some loopholes with ingredients and labeling on NSF products. Redness, dryness + irritation caused by environmental triggers, plus irritants such as alcohol + fragrance, make it difficult to find a skincare routine that works. Our mission is to make our food system and agriculture biologically sound and socially equitable. No modifications to the Oregon Tilth Certified Organic logo are allowed. Oregon Tilth is the most respected name in organic certification and they provide a full range of organic certification services both nationally and internationally. Depending on your product’s percentage of organic content, you may (or may not) make certain organic claims on specific parts of your product label. “Organic” is not the same thing as “natural” – which has little regulated meaning. As an OTCO-certified organic processor or handler, you may use the USDA NOP organic seal as well as choose from a number of our logos. “Made with organic ingredients” – Foods that contain at least 70% organic ingredients may list specific organic ingredients on the front of the package, but cannot use the USDA seal. Our eco-friendly* diapers got you covered! This is a great question! I tried to find answers on the USDA site but being that it's a government site, it's not easy to navigate. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Toll Free | 1.877.378.0690
Here’s how the USDA structures organic labeling: As you can see, there are varying degrees of organic and that last label can be especially deceptive. Most organic regulations prohibit the use of pesticides and most other synthetic chemicals, along with irradiation, fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients and bioengineering [aka GMOs]. Stay up-to-date on Honest products, promotions and blog articles. Connie Carr, the certification director at Oregon Tilth, which inspects and certifies food producers for the USDA, says farmers take advantage of it. First, let’s define “organic.” In trying to describe it in the broadest sense, we really couldn’t say it better than NSF International (who you’ll learn more about later). meets all the requirements prescribed in the USDA National Organic Program Regulations . Save 17% on every order + get 15% off select add-on items. How does that work? Find the Honestly Perfect Gift for New & Expecting Parents! Here are the Honestly safe products for cleaning all the things, Our boss babes top picks all in one place, Don't miss out on our biggest sale of the year. We’re no strangers to these questions because we have products covering the gamut of these certifications, so today we’re sharing all the basics of what you need to know about organic labels. Fax | 541.753.4924, Understanding organic food business certification, An ingredient statement (when the product has multiple ingredients), The name and address of the handler of the finished product, The certification agent of the handler (“Certified organic by Oregon Tilth”) listed below the handler information, Organic = 95% or more organic ingredients, Made with Organic = 70% or more organic ingredients.