Organic products are made from materials produced by organic agriculture. Organic food products are grown under a system of agriculture without the use of harmful chemical fertilizers and pesticides with an environmentally and socially responsible approach. Organic clothing products are made with raw materials produced using organic methods and produced using eco-friendly methods.
When it comes to processed, multi-ingredient foods, the USDA organic standards specify additional considerations. Regulations prohibit organically processed foods from containing artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors and require that their ingredients are organic, with some minor exceptions. Processed organic foods may contain some approved non-agricultural ingredients, like enzymes in yogurt, pectin in fruit jams, or baking soda in baked goods. When packaged products indicate they are “made with organic . The remaining non-organic ingredients are produced without using prohibited practices (genetic engineering, for example) but can include substances that would not otherwise be allowed in 100% organic products.
The National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances details synthetic and non-synthetic substances that can be used in the process of producing organic products. Operations involving these organic products must be "protecting natural resources, conserving biodiversity, and using only approved substances".
If a product has some organic ingredients but less than 70% of the ingredients are certified organic, the product cannot be labeled as organic.
Below are some positive and negative aspects of organic products:
Positive:
- Organic products are grown without the use of harmful chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
- Organic products are produced using eco-friendly methods.
- Organic products are produced using approved substances.
Negative:
- Organic products can be more expensive than non-organic products.
- Organic products may have a shorter shelf life than non-organic products.
- Organic products may not be available in all areas.
It is important to note that organic products are not necessarily healthier or more nutritious than non-organic products.
