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(continued from p. 84) NATURAL SELECTIONS tained through an annual audit, along with on-site inspections for high-risk products. nongmoproject.org ORGANIC R Such a labeled food cannot be grown using synthetic fertilizers, chemicals, sewage sludge, bioengineering methods or ionizing radiation and cannot contain genetically modified organisms or be irradiated. For meat, the animals must have been fed only organically grown feed without animal byproducts and should be free of hormones and antibiotics. A government-approved certifier inspects the farm to ensure it meets USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food can be certified as well. Several types of verbiage and seals are used under the USDA standards: "100% Organic" indicates that all ingredients are wholly organic; "Organic" means at least 95 percent of a product's ingredients are organic; "Made with organic ingredients" applies to products whose ingredients are at least 70 percent organic and list up to three organic ingredients or food groups on the principal display panel. Products with less than 70 percent organic ingredients may list specific organically produced ingredients on the side panel of the package, but may not make any organic claims on the front label. Independent organic certifiers include Quality Assurance International and region-specific programs such as California Certified Organic Farmers and Northeast Organic Farming Association. ams.usda.gov/nop PASTURED (OR PASTURE-RAISED) G Not an independently certified label; implies animals were allowed to roam freely and graze in their natural environment. PROTECTED HARVEST R Certifies farmers using environmental growing standards known as Biointensive Integrated Pest Management, a method of pest control less toxic than pesticides. Today, almost 30,000 acres of farmland are certified by Protected Harvest, encompassing wine grapes, potatoes, mushrooms, stone fruits and citrus. Protected Harvest, a nonprofit organization, is in the process of developing a certification program for dairy, almonds, tomatoes and a variety of fresh produce. protectedharvest.org largest coffee-certification programs in the world and enables farmers to learn better farming methods, improve working conditions and take better care of their children and the environment. The strict requirements for Utz-certified farms and businesses are closely monitored by independent third parties and audited annually. utzcertified.org RAINFOREST ALLIANCE R VEGETARIAN G This environmental certification for coffee, tea, cacao and fruits denotes the item has been grown or made sustainably and that workers were treated fairly. Each purchase of a labeled product helps the Rainforest Alliance preserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior. Farms are audited annually and surprise audits are carried out for certified farms at least once a year. rainforest-alliance.org This term is not regulated and can usually imply only that the product doesn't contain animal-derived ingredients. The products also may or may not have been tested on animals. Foods with "100% vegetarian ingredients" on the label contain no meat but may contain eggs or dairy. These marks are not regulated by any labeling law; instead, consumers can find the most reliable match between labels and their claims on foods that display logos from organizations such as the Vegetarian Society. SALMON SAFE R WHOLE GRAIN STAMP R Farms producing foods that carry the Salmon Safe label have been evaluated by independent experts who certify the use of agricultural practices that promote healthy streams and wetlands. These practices include water use, erosion control, chemical management and proper animal farming, all contributing to restoring stream eco-system health in native salmon fisheries of the Pacific Northwest. The independent eco-label is gaining national recognition and appears on a variety of products including wine, dairy and produce. salmonsafe.org The official packaging symbol of the Whole Grains Council, which aims to help consumers identify authentic wholegrain foods. There are two versions of this label: The 100% Whole Grain stamp denotes that the food contains a full serving (16 grams) or more of whole grains per labeled serving. The so-called basic Whole Grain stamp appears on products containing at least half a serving (8 grams) of whole grain per labeled serving. Each stamp also shows exactly how many grams of whole grains are in one serving of a product. wholegrainscouncil.org UTZ CERTIFIED R WILD CAUGHT P Almost half of all certified sustainable coffee is now Utz certified. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, this label stands for sustainable farming and better opportunities for farmers, their families and the environment. It assures responsible production and sourcing practices by one of the Refers to fish caught in their natural habitat. Starting in 2005, Country of Origin Labeling rules required unprocessed seafood sold at supermarkets to be labeled as "wild caught" or "farm raised." |SFM| Denise Shoukas is a contributing editor to Specialty Food Magazine. JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013 125