I know many of you who read this blog eat a healthy diet, or are currently making an effort to eat healthier. After all, you only have one body so it makes sense to put the best food you can into it. That’s why many people are turning to organic foods.

Take a glance at almost any food label and you’ll find things like antibiotics, preservatives, and hormones. If you’re concerned about your health you want to avoid these things by sticking to organic foods.

But if you’re not paying close attention to the label on your food you could be paying premium prices for a product that’s loaded with all those life sucking ingredients.

I’m talking about items that get labeled “Natural” or “Contains Organic Ingredients“.

Natural could mean just about anything. Cobra venom is natural, but I would not suggest eating it.

Here’s how the USDA, who make the rules for product labeling defines “natural”

A product containing no artificial ingredient or added color and is only minimally processed (a process which does not fundamentally alter the raw product) may be labeled natural. The label must explain the use of the term natural (such as – no added coloring or artificial ingredients; minimally processed.)

There’s a lot of wiggle room in that definition, and that’s why a lot of products labeled natural aren’t all that good for you.

Next are products that “Contains Organic Ingredients“. I call these weasel worded products because they’re hoping that you won’t stop to think about what that really means. It’s got the word organic on the label, but all it really means is some of the ingredients are organic – the rest can be loaded with chemicals and preservatives.

To make sure you’re getting real organic food you want to make sure the product has the USDA organic label. That way you’ll know you’re getting food that according to the USDA is….

…produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled “organic,” a Government-approved inspectors check out the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too.

For more about what the labels on your food really mean you can visit the USDA website at http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/nop