Food labeling just gets more and more confusing, for example, “USDA Organic” means that at least 95% of the ingredients are certified organic without the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and have not come from genetically engineered crops. “USDA Organic” meat means it is certified that the animal was raised without antibiotics or genetically modified feed. There is still no USDA organic standard for fish. A “Raised Without Antibiotics” or “No Antibiotics Administered” label means the animal from which the food came received no antibiotics during its lifetime unless the animal was sick.
However, the “USDA Organic” label should also be accompanied by the label “USDA Process Verified” which means the USDA actually “verified” that the food processor indeed did do what it says it did when it labeled its products as “USDA Organic,” otherwise you have trust that the food processor did not lie, hide or distort the contents of the food ingredients. Consequently, not having the “USDA Process Verified” label on a food package could make a difference in the food you think you are consuming.
An “Animal Welfare Approved” or “Certified Humane Raised And Handled” label means the animals raised for human consumption were always treated humanely from birth to slaughter and given access to pasture. Only family farms and smaller co-op farm groups can attain these labels and both guarantee the animals did not receive antibiotics unless they were sick.
A “USDA Process Verified Grass-fed” label means the animal was raised on a lifetime diet of 99% grass and forage and had access to pasture during most of the grass growing season. Meat that comes from grass-fed farm animals tends to provide more health benefits compared to grain-fed or grain-finished animals. However, one big difference, a simple “Grass-fed” label does not mean antibiotics were not used to make the animals grow faster and bigger so always look for the “USDA Process Verified” label if you want to make sure no antibiotics were given to the animal. You can also look for the “American Grass-fed” logo which certifies the animal was fed only grass and did not receive antibiotics.
Watch out for the American Heart Association “Heart-Check Mark” label which is a heart with a check mark in the center of it. This typically applies to foods with lower levels of saturated fat, cholesterol or a set percentage of whole-grain ingredients to help reduce the risk of heart disease but also check out the other ingredients too. You may find the product is also loaded with the same amount of sugar you find in a regular size, chocolate-laden candy bar.
“Free-range” chicken labels can be deceiving and conjures up images of happy, free-grazing chickens but the chicken producer only has to allow these chickens access to open air which could be for as little as 5 minutes a day.
Critics say the word “Natural” on a food label too often may mean it is meaningless especially since it has no standard U.S. government definition. It only applies to how the food was “processed” and not how the farm animal was raised but critics question this “process” so it may be a good idea to question any food label that says “Natural”.
SUPPLEMENTAL SOURCE: CONSUMER REPORTS MAGAZINE AUGUST 2013