Certified Food Is Not The Same As Certified Organic; Don't Be MisleadThe term certified food can mean anything at all and does not necessarily mean certified organic food. Certification can be used as a marketing tool for manufacturers to get an edge over their competition. As a result, food today can be certified for a variety of reasons. Here are some examples:
All these possible uses of the term can leave you confused as to what you are getting. The term certified food when applied to organics, is regulated in countries all over the world. To use the term in reference to organics, organic food standards must be met. Even so, you'll want to look for the verifying body. The company that did the inspections. They must be identified on the label. Do you trust them?
Certified Fair Trade is a distinction given to those products that ensure a farmer is fairly compensated for his efforts. Most often you will see this certification in conjunction with the product being organic. However, these are two separate things. So, if you see certified fair trade organic coffee, you'll have to see both certifications on the label. Please note that the same certifying body may be authorized to certify for both if conditions are met. Otherwise, it is either fair trade or it is organic. The other uses of the term can be misleading. To have certification for being washed or fresh is not saying anything about how the food was grown. Laugh if you must, but I have seen this, as far fetched as it seems. It does however, provide a pretty sticker for the product that can entice you to buy. Here's an example of what I mean. In a hurry, I picked up tomatoes that had certification, only to find that they weren't referring to certified organic. When I looked more closely, they did say what they were identifying, hydroponic. But, my intent was in buying organic. I did feel somewhat tricked. So here is your chance to benefit from my lesson learned. Make sure you know what the certification is acknowledging before you buy. Look for and
understand the organic food labeling.
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