What is a “Certified Organic” Food Product?
Organic food is commonly described as crops and animals produced and fed with natural food and without the use of chemical additives. Most food labeled and sold as “organic”, “100 percent organic” or “made with organic ingredients” must be officially certified as such (see below for exceptions). In fact, “certified organic” refers to agricultural products that have been grown or processed according to uniform standards verified by independent state or private organizations accredited by the USDA. To read more about what constitutes a “certified organic” product refer to the USDA’s national list of allowed and prohibited substances. 2. How to get Certified as an Accredited “Certified Organic” Producer or Handler If you produce or handle any organic food you will need to apply for certification through a USDA certified agent. Your application will need to include specifics about the history of the agricultural land, products being grown, raised or processed, as well as an organic system
