What does “all natural” ingredients really mean on food labels?
As we browse the isles of the grocery store, the packaging on many, many, many foods have all sorts of nutrition claims on them, “organic”, “free-range”, “antibiotic-free”- all of which are terms permitted under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as long as they meet the minimal requirements. One such claim is one many of us may see and equate with greater wholesomeness or improved healthiness….”all natural”. People will often even wind up purchasing more product as well as paying more money for such products for these perceived qualities. But what makes a food “all natural”?
According to regulatory agencies such as the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) division of the USDA, as long as a food product has been minimally processed and contains nothing artificial, it may be denoted as “containing natural ingredients”, “100% natural”, or “all natural”. These definitions are not defined by the agency itself, but must be approved on a case-by-case basis before the food may be sold with this label. The manufacturer must provide the FSIS with documentation to prove it meets the standard set above (ie. minimal processing, no artificial additives). But this doesn’t mean that the product is grown without human interventions which could affect the quality of the product (ie antibiotics, hormones, pesticides, etc.). If a consumer is looking for these attributes, then they have to look for these labels specifically on the products which they are looking to purchase.
This brings me to another important topic which I have covered previously: reading food labels! It is so important to be an informed consumer. Why not take a moment to look at the labels and compare products before purchasing? If you’re going to spend money on it and put it into your body why not make sure it meets the standard you set for each item. Educate yourself on how to read labels and search for qualities which you desire in a product; perhaps you’re looking to reduce your sodium intake to promote cardiovascular (heart) health- then you will want to look for items which are labeled “low sodium” or “no salt added”. A prime resource for reading and deciphering food labels can be found on the USDA’s website here: https://www.fda.gov/food/new-nutrition-facts-label/how-understand-and-use-nutrition-facts-label
An informed consumer is a healthier consumer.
