How is use of the USDA Organic seal protected?
People who sell or label a product “organic” when they know it does not meet USDA standards can be fined up to $11,000 for each violation. Does natural mean organic? No. Natural and organic are not interchangeable. Other truthful claims, such as free-range, hormone-free, and natural, can still appear on food labels. However, don’t confuse these terms with “organic.” Only food labeled “organic” has been certified as meeting USDA organic standards. For more detailed information on the USDA organic standards, visit our web site at http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop, call the National Organic Program at 202-720-3252, or write USDA-AMS-TM-NOP, Room 4008 S. Bldg., Ag Stop 0268, 1400 Independence, SW, Washington, DC 20250.
