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Food labels are complicated, and with all the different terms floating around on them, it can be difficult to know exactly what each one means. But, if you’re well educated and know the significance behind these commonly seen ones, you’ll be able to make the best choices for your healthy lifestyle.
1. Non-GMO: The acronym “GMO” refers to genetically modified organisms, which are living organisms whose genetic make up have been manipulated in a laboratory through artificial means. When something is genetically modified, that means that genes from various other organisms (which can include plants, bacteria, viruses, or animals) have been inserted into it to change its DNA, enabling the food to have some sort of desired…
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%20have%20been%20inserted%20into%20it%20to%20change%20its%20DNA,%20enabling%20the%20food%20to%20have%20some%20sort%20of%20desired%20characteristic.%20Most%20of%20the%20time,%20crops%20are%20genetically%20modified%20in%20order%20to%20enhance%20growth%20or%20to%20be%20resistant%20to%20pesticides.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThe%20bottom%20line:%20GMOs%20should%20be%20avoided%20for%20many%20reasons,%20but%20mainly%20because%20no%20study%20has%20proven%20that%20they%20are%20safe%20to%20eat.%20In%20fact,%20most%20studies%20are%20leaning%20in%20the%20other%20direction,%20which%20is%20why%20many%20countries%20around%20the%20world%20have%20already%20banned%20them.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E2.%20Organic:%20USDA%20certified%20organic%20foods%20are%20grown%20and%20processed%20according%20to%20federal%20guidelines%20concerning%20factors%20such%20as%20soil%20quality,%20animal%20raising%20practices,%20pest%20and%20weed%20control,%20and%20use%20of%20additives.%20More%20specifically,%20the%20USDA%20states%20that%20organic%20products%20must%20be%20free%20of%20synthetic%20additives%20like%20pesticides,%20chemical%20fertilizers,%20and%20dyes,%20and%20must%20not%20be%20processed%20using%20industrial%20solvents,%20irradiation,%20or%20genetic%20engineering.%20There%20are%20three%20categories%20of%20labels%20that%20are%20used%20by%20the%20FDA:%20%E2%80%9C100%25%20organic,%E2%80%9D%20%E2%80%9Corganic,%E2%80%9D%20and%20%E2%80%9Cmade%20with%20organic%20ingredients.%E2%80%9D%20Only%20foods%20made%20with%20entirely%20organic%20ingredients%20can%20be%20labeled%20%E2%80%9C100%25%20organic,%E2%80%9D%20whereas%20the%20%E2%80%9Corganic%E2%80%9D%20label%20can%20be%20placed%20on%20foods%20that%20contain%20at%20least%2095%25%20organic%20ingredients,%20with%20the%20other%205%25%20not%20containing%20growth%20hormones.%20The%20label%20%E2%80%9Cmade%20with%20organic%20ingredients%E2%80%9D%20can%20be%20attached%20to%20a%20product%20that%20contains%2070%25%20organic%20ingredients,%20meaning%20that%20the%20other%2030%20percent%20may%20be%20genetically%20modified%20or%20processed%20in%20some%20way.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThe%20bottom%20line:%20Look%20for%20foods%20that%20have%20the%20100%25%20organic%20label%20to%20ensure%20that%20the%20whole%20product%20is%20totally%20free%20of%20synthetic%20additives%20and%20chemicals.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EFor%20an%20explanation%20of%20why%20organic%20food%20costs%20more,%20check%20out%20this%20article%20by%20Robyn%20O%E2%80%99Brien.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E3.%20Low%20Fat:%20A%20food%20can%20legally%20be%20labeled%20as%20low%20fat%20if%20it%20contains%203%20grams%20of%20fat%20or%20less%20per%20serving.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThe%20bottom%20line:%20Generally,%20these%20foods%20should%20be%20avoided%20because%20in%20order%20to%20be%20low%20fat,%20these%20products%20usually%20rely%20on%20added%20sugar%20or%20artificial%20ingredients%20in%20order%20to%20make%20up%20for%20the%20lost%20flavor.%20You%E2%80%99re%20better%20off%20eating%20something%20that%20is%20full%20fat%20and%20totally%20natural%20than%20an%20artificial%20product%20that%20contains%20fewer%20calories.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E4.%20Low%20Calorie:%20This%20term%20can%20be%20placed%20on%20a%20snack%20or%20side%20dish%20when%20a%20food%20is%2040%20calories%20or%20less%20per%20serving.%20For%20a%20main%20dish,%20it%20indicates%20that%20a%20food%20is%20120%20calories%20or%20less%20per%20serving.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThe%20bottom%20line:%20These%20serving%20sizes%20are%20often%20quite%20small,%20and%20as%20with%20low%20fat%20foods,%20they%20usually%20contain%20artificial%20ingredients%20to%20compensate%20for%20the%20lack%20of%20calories.%20Buy%20foods%20that%20are%20naturally%20low%20in%20calories,%20such%20as%20fruits%20and%20vegetables,%20instead.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E5.%20Sustainable:%20This%20term%20can%20apply%20to%20all%20types%20of%20agriculture,%20and%20it%20essentially%20means%20that%20the%20food%20was%20produced%20in%20a%20way%20that%20enhances%20environmental%20quality,%20respects%20animals,%20is%20healthy%20to%20consume,%20is%20humane%20for%20workers,%20and%20provides%20those%20workers%20with%20fair%20wages.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThe%20bottom%20line:%20This%20definition%20is%20somewhat%20vague,%20and%20its%20terms%20are%20not%20always%20agreed%20upon,%20but%20you%20can%20be%20certain%20that%20sustainable%20foods%20are%20definitely%20better%20for%20your%20body%20and%20the%20environment%20than%20foods%20lacking%20this%20label.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E6.%20All%20Natural:%20The%20FDA%20has%20yet%20to%20develop%20a%20strict%20definition%20for%20this%20term.%20Only%20foods%20that%20contain%20added%20color,%20artificial%20ingredients,%20or%20synthetic%20ingredients%20are%20prohibited%20from%20sporting%20this%20%E2%80%9Cnatural%E2%80%9D%20claim.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThe%20bottom%20line:%20It%20doesn%E2%80%99t%20mean%20or%20indicate%20much%20at%20all%20when%20a%20food%20has%20this%20label,%20so%20use%20your%20own%20discretion%20when%20buying%20such%20products.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E7.%20Biodynamic:%20This%20label,%20which%20is%20verified%20by%20the%20Demeter%20Association,%20means%20that%20the%20food%20is%20produced%20organically%20with%20a%20spiritual,%20ecological%20approach.%20Biodynamic%20farms%20utilize%20a%20holistic%20approach,%20and%20are%20managed%20as%20self-contained,%20self-sustaining%20ecosystems%20with%20little%20reliance%20on%20external%20inputs.%20This%20label%20is%20highly%20meaningful%20because%20of%20how%20many%20requirements%20the%20product%20has%20to%20meet,%20which%20take%20into%20account%20animal%20welfare,%20soil%20fertility,%20reliance%20on%20natural%20methods%20of%20pest%20management%20rather%20than%20chemical%20pesticides,%20and%20preservation%20of%20biodiversity.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThe%20bottom%20line:%20Products%20marked%20with%20this%20label%20are%20without%20a%20doubt%20the%20best%20for%20your%20health%20as%20well%20as%20the%20environment,%20so,%20if%20your%20budget%20permits,%20you%20should%20consider%20buying%20them%20when%20possible.%3C/p%3E){kind=link}