what is organic

Organic refers to a system of farming and food production that aims to produce high-quality food using methods that benefit the whole food system, from people to planet, plant health to animal welfare. Organic farming features practices that cycle resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity. Organic foods are produced through farming practices that only use natural substances, avoiding all artificial chemicals, hormones, antibiotics, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) . Organic farmers work to a strict set of standards, which must legally comply with strict EU regulation, to ensure that their farms sustain the health of soils, ecosystems, animals, and people. Organizations regulating organic products may restrict the use of certain pesticides and fertilizers in the farming methods used to produce such products. In order to be labeled organic, a food product must be free of artificial food additives, including artificial sweeteners, preservatives, coloring, flavoring, and monosodium glutamate (MSG) .