Walk down the grocery aisle and you’ll see all sorts of clams, Natural, All Natural, Organic, 100% Organic, and more. So what is the real difference between these. The USDA has very strict requirements on what can be labeled Organic, but the requirements for Natural are minimal. There are actually three levels of Organic which are listed below, then there is a table which lists the difference between Organic and Natural in multiple categories.
Natural vs. Organic
100% Organic
Products containing only organically produced ingredients
Products may display the USDA organic seal
Organic
Products consisting of ingredients that are at least 95% organically grown
Products can display the USDA organic seal
Made with Organic
Products consisting of ingredients that are 70 – 95% organically grown
Products cannot display the USDA organic seal
Natural
Products produced without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives
Organic |
Natural |
|
|---|---|---|
| Toxic persistent Pesticides allowed | Not Allowed | Allowed |
| GMOs | Not Allowed | Allowed |
| Antibiotics | Not Allowed | Allowed |
| Growth Hormones | Not Allowed | Allowed |
| Sludge & Irridation | Not Allowed | Allowed |
| Animal Welfare Requirements | Yes | No |
| Cows required to be on pasture for pasture season | Yes | No |
| Audit trail from farm to table | Yes | No |
| Certification Required, including inspections | Yes | No |
| Legal restrictions on allowable materials | Yes | No |
So now you know the difference, so the next time you pick up that box that says “All Natural” realize that it is just marketing and really means very little.