TODAY'S TURN: Look for the seal

THE ISSUE:
"Organic" is an easy term to throw around. Smells like the latest advertising buzz word, right? Right up there with "green," "light," "new," and "eco-friendly." I needed to know - can I remain safely cynical and skeptical, or start to trust "organic" as a buying feature? When I looked into it, I was surprised in a couple of big ways.

THE GOOD TURN:

The first surprise: there's only one way a US product can use the word "organic." That's by being certified by the USDA. I'm not always a fan of government oversight, but the fact is there's only one source for certification. Second surprise: the certification sounds extremely thorough - even wood used for fenceposts involved in production can't be treated with fungicide or other prohibited substance if the product hopes to earn the seal of approval.

That said, you should still remember a few things when shopping. First, many imports don't fall under USDA control for "organic" approval; different countries treat the word differently. Second, the cert only looks at pesticide and chemicals use; no fair trade or fair employment questions are asked or answered. Third, even "organic" products can be produced with un-green methods like deforestation. Just watch yourself is all I'm saying.

No it's not perfect, but the point is, if you're interested in products made w/out all the chemicals, I think it's pretty safe to look for this seal:Quick translator - here's what different marketing phrases mean:

"100% organic" = made entirely with certified organic ingredients and methods (can use seal)

"Organic" = made with at least 95% organic ingredients can use the word (can use seal)

"Made with organic ingredients" = made with at least 70% organic ingredients (can NOT use seal)

Click here to do this Good Turn:

Learn all about the USDA Organic Seal

See some details about the certification criteria

Find some organic brands at the Organic Trade Association

And finally, mmmmmm...organic!