We see so many labels on all the product we buy and consume. This one is organic or this one is cage free or this shampoo is non-toxic. But what do these labels actually mean? And who is regulating them? Do they even hold any merit?
You would think that these labels mean what they say, right? But some of the labels we see mean actually nothing and even worst, some of these labels are only used to increase the price of a product. Very infuriating! I have taken some of the most common labels we see on both food and products and broken them down to what they actually mean.
Labels With Merit
Below are the labels that truly mean something and have actual guidelines to what can be put on the label.
Certified Organic
This is one of the only labels that holds any type of merit when in comes to food. This label is backed my the USDA and has numerous strict rules that must be followed. These rules include:
- no synthetic pesticides
- no synthetic fertilizers
- no sewage sludge
- cannot be genetically modified
- animals must eat organic fee with no animal byproducts
- cannot use synthetic hormones
- cannot use synthetic antibiotics
- animals must have access to the outdoors
- animals cannot be cloned
When looking for organic foods, it is always wise to look for the USDA Organic stamp. Some mixed foods might have a label of “made with organic food”. This means that at least 70% of the food items are organic and meet the USDA guidelines. Foods that are not 100% certified organic will not have the USDA Organic stamp! So look for that stamp!
USDA Inspected
When you see the seal of USDA Inspected, this tells you that food has been processed in accordance with USDA regulations. A USDA employee will have inspected the way the food is processed. This label is also where you will see the grade the USDA will give the food. While the label of USDA Inspected holds merit on how the company is processing their food, the grade tells you absolutely nothing except the quality and size.
Non-GMO
A Non-GMO label on food means exactly what it says, it contains no genetically processed foods. The USDA does not regulate this label, instead it is regulated by an independent company, The Non-GMO Project. A product that is USDA Certified Organic is already an non-GMO product, however, if it holds a non-GMO label but no USDA Organic label, then it could possibly contain steroids, antibiotics, sewage sludge, pesticides and things of that nature.
Leaping Bunny Certified
In the beauty world, there really are only two labels to show products are cruelty free. One of those labels is the PETA certification and one is the Leaping Bunny Certification. PETA certification only requires a company to write a signed letter saying they do no test on animals. Leaping Bunny requires a company to not only send a letter stating they do not test on animals but also perform independent audits to prove they are a cruelty free brand. It is not a government regulated certification, it is independently done but hold quite a bit of credit in the beauty world.
Misleading Labels
Cage Free
Looking at a label that says cage-free, I like to think of chickens running around a whole farm laying eggs and living a good life. Unfortunately, this is not usually what happens. For a product to be labeled Cage Free, it only means the chickens are not kept in cages. They can still be kept indoors, in nasty living conditions and typically they are still living on top of each other with very little space.
Pasture Raised
Once again I like to think of this as a chicken roaming around living its best life, but sadly this again is not typically what happens. To wear the label of Pasture Raised, it simply means an animal must spend sometime outdoors but there are no regulations on how long that must be. It could be five minutes of its life! So once again, this label can be very misleading!
Free Range
Another one that makes you think animals are living their best lives! But it’s very far from true! This is a USDA regulated label but only for poultry that is to be used as meat. It holds absolutely no merit for pork, beef, or egg laying chickens. So if you are seeing a Free Range label on anything other than chicken meat, it holds no value.
Non-Toxic
This label is thrown around more times than I can count and it is absolutely 100% not true, but by FDA standards, it is true! Since the FDA approves of so many toxic chemical, technically everything on the shelf is deemed non-toxic in their eyes. There are no regulations for products to be labeled non-toxic, low tox, free from toxins, and any other form of non-toxic wording that is seen.
Green
I thought about lumping this label in with non-toxic but then decided not to. We see the label Green on a lot of household cleaning products. Once again this label means absolutely nothing because any home cleaner can slap this label on since the FDA guidelines are their only guidelines.
It is unfortunate that so many of our food products, beauty products, cleaning products, and household items hold labels that mean very little. This is why I am so passionate about consumers understanding the labels and understanding how these toxic items can affect our lives. While I do believe a movement is starting that will change how some of our products are regulated, I don’t think it’ll happen anytime soon! For now, keep checking those labels and sources!