How Natural Is Natural? Does That Food Label Tell You The Whole Story?

Does that food label tell you everything you need to know about the product? Sometimes, to the consumer it can be like deciphering a code.

We discussed organic food labeling in my article “What Does an Organic Food Label Really Mean?”. Today, let’s look at the other methods of food production that are alternatives to the conventional growing process. The products with these labels are not necessarily organic, but might provide better alternatives for your food choices.

All natural or naturally grown:The product in the package was processed and packaged without any additional preservatives or additives. The product in the package can be made with fewer water and food additives than conventionally grown products. Natural or naturally grown products typically have lower pesticide use because they rely on natural farming methods instead of chemicals. Products with this label are not necessarily organic, but might provide better alternatives for your food choices.

Free range or pasture fed:Simply stated, the livestock is raised under strict government guidelines that guarantee that they are free from antibiotic, hormone and hormone additives, as well as regular doses of antibiotics, hormones and other drugs. The USDA uses these animals for two major reasons: first, to reduce the risk of diseases that can spread to other animals in confined conditions and second, to help the livestock recover healthily from diseases. There is no magic here. Just being “free range” means that the livestock really has access to open air and sunshine, but doesn’t necessarily assure that they are not treated with harmful chemicals. Products with this label are not necessarily organic, but might provide better alternatives for your food choices.

Made with organic ingredients:This label can be misleading.  Typically, organic foods contain at least 95 percent organic ingredients, though it could be as high as 99 percent. The word organic means that the product contains at least 95 percent organic ingredients, but does not necessarily mean that it is necessarily free of harmful chemicals. Make sure that you are actually getting 100 percent organic quality.

Soy free:A product that contains soy is labeled as “Soy” free when the soy is not a primary ingredient. For example, I cannot call a restaurant that provides free breakfasts a “health food store” because they are using high-quality flour, not whole grain. One place that does not use soy isabafarm; they source their whole grain from corn and the flour is made from beans that are cooked in huge vats of high-temperature oil. You might be more likely to encounter a product that contains soy in one of its forms: tofu, tempeh, miso, soy sauce, or soy flour. Notice that none of these soy Formulated products contain soy isolate; you are more likely to encounter one of the other soy Formulated products.

Vegetarian fed:Now Foods, Inc., a consumer label maker, has come under fire for using vegetarian fed on their label for years. What this really means is that the company follows the Guidelines for Organically Grown Produce. These Guidelines were created in 1936 and they are the same guidelines used by most grocery and produce coops. The difference is that their guideline for vegetarian fed is voluntary whereas the government’s guideline requires all products to be minimally processed with no added hormones or antibiotics.

Fruit ingredient:Since most people consist of 75 to 100 percent fruit in their diet, it only makes sense that their food selections should reflect this portion of their diet. Different fruits contain different nutrients so it makes good sense to mix these fruits in with other, similar fruits. Having a large fruit component in a vegetarian diet can help people get key nutrients, fiber, and phytochemicals. In addition, the components of the various fruits contribute to the total dietary recommendation of 4 to 13 servings of fruit and vegetables per day.

Relatively low fat, low cholesterol, and low sodium

In most cases, the negative effects of processed fats and added sugars are taken into account, and these are the main components of the vegetarian diet to look for. The following provides a guideline for the nutrients that should be limited to low amounts ( strive for no more than 30 percent of the total calories per day to come from these groups, less than 300mg/day total fat, 200mg/day saturated fat, and 50mg/day sodium).

Relatively low fat, low cholesterol, and low sodium:In most cases, the negative effects of processed fats and added sugars are taken into account, and these are the main components of the vegetarian diet to look for. The following provides a guideline for the nutrients that should be limited to low amounts ( strive for no more than 30 percent of the total calories per day to come from these groups, less than 300mg/day total fat, 200mg/day saturated fat, and 50mg/day sodium).