Introduction to the Food Labels Series
Supply and demand economics dictates that whatever consumers want to buy is what farmers will produce. Grocery shoppers frequently pay more for products they believe were grown using methods they deem acceptable. However, all too often what happens is that, instead of actually improving methods to uphold higher expectations of animal welfare, public safety, and environmental sustainability, many producers, and more than a few government policy makers, have created food labels, along with corresponding mandates that must be met for farmers to achieve those labels, that are designed to sound like what the general public wants to hear… but might not actually mean what you think.
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Photo from www.naturalmentor.com/
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For example, foods labeled “Natural” do not contain preservatives, artificial ingredients, and may only contain minimally processed inputs. Any livestock producers that want the harvest from their animals to be labeled “Natural” have to submit an application disclosing how that animal was raised, and the food handling during and after slaughter is regulated. However, the animals are not inspected to see if the farmers’ claims check out, and there is no sort of certification program like there is for many other labels. For meat and poultry, an additional claim must be added detailing exactly what is meant by the “Natural” label. Usually, this is an additional label saying, "no artificial ingredients; minimally processed.”
However, a different label, “All Natural,” to the average consumer, seems like a step up from "Natural." and most people believe that food with that label is somehow purer and more highly regulated than food labeled “Natural,” but this couldn’t be further from the case. In fact, “All Natural” is not even a category of label regulated by the USDA or FDA. That means that food can be labeled “All Natural” no matter what conditions it was grown under—the phrase has no meaning as far as American Agriculture is concerned.
Many consumers complain that even the phrase “natural” is misleading because food with that label can still come from Genetically Modified Organisms or animals that were given antibiotics. I would argue that neither of these things cause food safety concerns, but they definitely don’t add up to the un-touched-by-modern-technology, wide-open-spaces-and-old-creeky-windmill impressions that the phrase “Natural” gives to most consumers. The truth is that this label speaks more to how the foods are handled after they leave the farm, and has barely any relevance with how the food was grown.
However, a different label, “All Natural,” to the average consumer, seems like a step up from "Natural." and most people believe that food with that label is somehow purer and more highly regulated than food labeled “Natural,” but this couldn’t be further from the case. In fact, “All Natural” is not even a category of label regulated by the USDA or FDA. That means that food can be labeled “All Natural” no matter what conditions it was grown under—the phrase has no meaning as far as American Agriculture is concerned.
Many consumers complain that even the phrase “natural” is misleading because food with that label can still come from Genetically Modified Organisms or animals that were given antibiotics. I would argue that neither of these things cause food safety concerns, but they definitely don’t add up to the un-touched-by-modern-technology, wide-open-spaces-and-old-creeky-windmill impressions that the phrase “Natural” gives to most consumers. The truth is that this label speaks more to how the foods are handled after they leave the farm, and has barely any relevance with how the food was grown.
But the reality is that people don’t realize it. A 2014 survey found that almost 70% of Americans believed that a “Natural” label means the product was produced with no pesticides or genetic engineering… which almost all food is nowadays! Companies are using these phrases to entice consumers to buy something that seems to be healthier or better for the environment, but are actually no different than food with zero labels. By definition, most food labels are merely marketing gimmicks, and the majority of people are falling for them on a regular basis.
So what can you do to make sure the food you eat was truly grown under the conditions you prefer? Learn the labels. |
Photo from www.healthline.com/
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Research what standards farms who operate under those labels are held to, whether they’re dictated by the USDA, FDA, or certain companies such as Kosher. Figure out what effects certain farm practices actually have on your health and the environment, and realize that many of the people telling you a product is unsuitable are only doing so because they are financially connected to the alternative. This is much the case for GMOs and even animal products.
For this reason, Food Labeling is going to be the focus of my next series. Right now, here are the topics I plan to cover:
Of course, this is bound to change/be added to. If you think of an important label I’ve missed, head on over to my socials (linked on my home page) and let me know!
For this reason, Food Labeling is going to be the focus of my next series. Right now, here are the topics I plan to cover:
- Organic
- Non-GMO/Certified Non-GMO
- Free Range/Cage Free
- Grass Fed
- Free
- Gluten Free
- Sugar Free
- Pesticide Free
- Kosher Certified
- Raised Without Added Hormones
Of course, this is bound to change/be added to. If you think of an important label I’ve missed, head on over to my socials (linked on my home page) and let me know!
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