National Organic Program's Standards (Reading the Labels)

USDA's National Organic Program (NOP) regulates standards for any farm, wild crop harvesting, or handling operation that wantes to sell an agriculteral product as organically produced. Previous posts have listed some requirements for food to be considered organic, but here is what the NOP's labeling standards are:

• Products labeled "100% organic" must contain at least 95% organic ingredients
• The label "made with organic ingredients" can contain anywhere between 70 to 95% organic ingredients
• Organic products cannot be irradiated and are not allowed to contain preservatives or flavor-enhancing chemicals
• Organic products cannot conatin traces of heavy metals or other contaminants in excess tolerences set by the FDA
• The pesticide residue levels in organic food cannot be higher than 5%

Reference: Joseph Mercola D.O.