Glossary

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Animal Welfare Approved

Independent third-party certification. Animals are raised outdoors on pasture or range on true family farms with the “most stringent” welfare standards according to the World Society for the Protection of Animals in both 2008 and 2009 reports. The standards are developed in collaboration with scientists, veterinarians, researchers and farmers and incorporate best practice and recent research. Annual audits by experts in the field cover birth to slaughter. Species include beef cattle, dairy cattle, pigs, poultry (chicken, turkey and duck), sheep, goats, rabbits and bison. (Definition provided by AnimalWelfareApproved.org)

Biodynamic

Made popular by Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner, biodynamic farming combines organic methods, including crop rotation and composting with special plant, animal, and mineral preparations and the rhythmic influences of the sun, moon, planets, and stars. (Definition provided by Organic.org)

Cage Free

No legal or regulated definition. This term is most often applied to egg laying hens, not to poultry raised for meat. As the term implies, the hens are raised without using cages. However, “cage free” does not explain if the birds had access to the outside and the reality is that most “cage free” hens live inside large barns or warehouses in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions (see image below). Practices such as beak cutting are also permitted. No independent third-party verification. (Definition provided by AnimalWelfareApproved.org)

California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF)

CCOF is an independent party that was the first to provide certification services to all stages of the organic food chain from farms to processors, restaurants, and retailers. CCOF certifies the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) standards and CCOF international standards. (Definition provided by Organic.org)

Certified Organic

There are four organic classifications for organic food that meet strict standards set forth by the USDA National Organic Program (NOP). For more information, see our Label Guide. (Definition provided by Organic.org)

Certified Naturally Grown

A non-profit organization that supports smaller local farmers that cannot afford to participate in the national organic certification program. (Definition provided by Organic.org)

Certifying Agent

Certifying agents are associated with independent organizations who visit organic farms to ensure that USDA NOP standards are upheld. (Definition provided by Organic.org)

Composting

Compost is composed of organic matter that is recycled back into the earth. Organic matter may include lawn clippings, vegetable scraps from the kitchen, and untreated papers. These materials are combined and become a nutrient-rich mixture that enriches the soil. (Definition provided by Organic.org)

Cover Cropping

A crop that provides temporary protection for delicate seedlings and/or provides a canopy for seasonal soil protection and improvement between normal crop-production periods. Except in orchards where permanent vegetative cover is maintained, cover crops are usually grown for one year or less. When plowed under and incorporated into the soil, cover crops are also referred to as green manure crops. (Definition provided by Organic.org)

Crop Rotation

A system of planting where crops vary from season to season; one crop is not grown each year as a new one replaces the one before. (Definition provided by Organic.org)

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

A CSA is a paid subscription to a farm where people buy a share of the farm and are provided with a variety of fruits and vegetables in return according to what is in season on a routine basis. This is an excellent way to build a relationship with a farmer and support local agriculture. (Definition provided by Organic.org)

Eco-conscious

Someone who is referred to as eco-conscious is conscious of the environment and the ecosystems that support it. People who are eco-conscious are aware of how our buying habits, living habits and eating habits impact the earth. (Definition provided by Organic.org)

Fair Trade

Items that bear a fair trade label are internationally produced and include banana, pineapple, coffee, and chocolate that typically come from developing countries where workers aren’t always provided the best conditions. Fair trade labeling assures that farmers are paid better-than-conventional prices, are trained on sustainable agriculture practices, work directly with food cooperatives (co-ops), and are often organic. (Definition provided by Organic.org)

Farmers’ Market

Farmers’ markets are typically held weekly, usually outside, and are a place where local farmers in any given area gather to sell their produce or specialty goods. Food sold at the market is not always organic, however the selection of organic food is traditionally broader at a Farmers’ Market than at other outlets. These markets are also a great place to develop relationships with the folks who grow your food. (Definition provided by Organic.org)

Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA)

Established in 1996, the FQPA amendments changed the way the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates pesticides. The requirements included a new safety standard – reasonable certainty of no harm – that must be applied to all pesticides used on foods. (Definition provided by Organic.org)

Free Range

Of, relating to, or produced by animals, especially poultry, that have access to outside spaces and are permitted to graze or forage and range freely for food rather than being confined in an enclosure or feedlot as with free-range chickens. Sometimes referred to as free-roaming. Conditions for the animals are also typically less crowded. (Definition provided by Organic.org)

Free-Range/Roaming

Defined for poultry meat only. In order to use “free roaming” or “free range” on a poultry meat label the producer must demonstrate to the USDA that poultry have access to the outdoors. However, the type of outdoor access provided (such as pasture or dirt lot), the length of time animals are required to have outdoor access, and how this is verified is not legally defined, and therefore varies greatly from facility to facility. There is no guarantee that birds actually go outside. When used to describe laying hens and other animals, the terms “free range” and “free roaming” are not legally defined at all, and there is no requirement to demonstrate that birds and animals have even had access to the outside, let alone any reference to other management practices. No independent third party verification. (Definition provided by AnimalWelfareApproved.org)

Genetically Engineered (GE)

Genetically engineered foods have had foreign genes inserted into their genetic codes. Genetic engineering can be done with plants, animals, or microorganisms. GE practices are sometimes referred to as bioengineered or biotechnology. (Definition provided by Organic.org)

Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)

A plant, animal, or microorganism that is transformed by genetic engineering. A product that is the result of genetic engineering is called a “product of genetic engineering” or a “derivative of GMOs” depending on the circumstances. It is felt by some that the use of GM crops unnecessarily risks the health of the population and the environment due to insufficient knowledge to safely and predictably modify plant genomes. (Definition provided by Organic.org)

Grassfed (also “100% Grassfed” or “Grassfed, Grass-Finished”)

Multiple definitions. Truly grassfed animals are fed a diet of grass or other forage throughout their lives and have constant access to pasture or range. They are not given any grain feed, animal byproducts, synthetic hormones, or antibiotics to promote growth or to prevent disease. Unfortunately, some “grassfed” labels do not guarantee that animals were pastured or pasture-raised – for example, farmers using the USDA grassfed logo can confine cattle on feedlots while feeding trucked in cut grass or forage. To ensure animals were not confined look for the American Grassfed Association logo, which verifies a 100 percent forage diet and ensures that animals are raised on pasture with no confinement, no antibiotics and no added hormones. For more information see AWA’s Grassfed Primer, available for free download above. (Definition provided by AnimalWelfareApproved.org)

Heirloom

An antique variety of a plant popular in the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth centuries, the seeds of which have been passed down from generation to generation. (Definition provided by Organic.org)

Heritage

No legal or regulated definition. Heritage foods are derived from traditional breeds of livestock and crops that were bred over time so that they are well-adapted to local environmental conditions and can resist local disease, for example. Heritage livestock breeds generally have slow growth rates and are well-suited for grazing on pasture. However, the term “heritage” does not guarantee that animals were raised outdoors and is not independently verified. (Definition provided by AnimalWelfareApproved.org)

Humus

The result of organic material being decomposed into a dark soil-like material that contains plant nutrients. (Definition provided by Organic.org)

International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM)

IFOAM’s mission is to lead, unite, and assist the organic movement in its full diversity with a goal of worldwide adoption of ecologically, socially, and economically sound systems that are based on the principles of organic agriculture. (Definition provided by Organic.org)

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

The use of different techniques in combination to control pests, with an emphasis on methods that are least injurious to the environment and most specific to the particular pest. For example, pest-resistant plant varieties, regular monitoring for pests, pesticides, natural predators of the pest, and good stand management practices may be used singly or in combination to control or prevent particular pests. (Definition provided by Organic.org)

Irradiation

Exposure to ionizing radiation. Food irradiation is a synthetic process that is not allowed in organic production. (Definition provided by Organic.org)

Natural

Natural foods do not contain additives or preservatives but ingredients may have been grown using conventional farming methods or genetically engineered grain. Because natural products are not regulated, it is important not to confuse them with organic! (Definition provided by Organic.org) Defined by the USDA. A product containing no artificial ingredient or added color and is only minimally processed (a process which does not fundamentally alter the raw product) may be labeled natural. The label must explain the use of the term natural (such as – no added colorings or artificial ingredients; minimally processed). As defined by the USDA, the term applies only to how meat from the animal is processed after it has been slaughtered. It is important to note that this commonly used term does not refer in any way to how an animal was raised, so the farming system may have involved feedlot and confinement systems or the routine use of antibiotic growth promoters, for example. No third party verification. (Definition provided by AnimalWelfareApproved.org)

National Organic Program (NOP)

In 1990, Congress passed the Organic Food Production Act, which called on the USDA to establish national standards for growing, processing, and marketing organic products. NOP was established to create a system of criteria for certifying organic food by the USDA. (Definition provided by Organic.org)

National Organic Standards Board (NOSB)

This group is a government-appointed panel that advises the National Organic Program to assist in the development of standards for substances to be used in organic production and to advise on any other aspects of the implementation of the National Organic Program.

No Antibiotics

Defined by the USDA. The terms “no antibiotics added” may be used on labels for meat or poultry products if sufficient documentation is provided by the producer to the Agency demonstrating that the animals were raised without antibiotics. Antibiotics are given to animals, such as cattle, hogs, sheep, and chickens, to prevent or manage diseases. Although the USDA is accountable for proper use of these claims, there is no verification system in place. (Definition provided by AnimalWelfareApproved.org)

No Hormones Administered/No Added Hormones

Defined by the USDA. Hormones are commonly used in industrial farming to speed up animal growth rates. By law, however, hogs and poultry cannot be given any hormones, so any chicken or pork meat labeled “no added hormones,” must also include the statement, “Federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones.” (Definition provided by AnimalWelfareApproved.org)

No Preservatives

A product that is not made with any of the ingredients nitrates, nitrites, BHT, and sulfites. (Definition provided by Organic.org)

Organic

Defined by the USDA. All products labeled as “organic” must meet the USDA’s National Organic Program standards. Certification is mandatory for farmers selling more than $5,000 of organic products a year, and is verified by an accredited certifying agency. In general, organic production limits the use of artificial chemicals, pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, and other inputs. Genetic modification is prohibited. However, organic standards do not strictly define production practices related to space per animal or outdoor access requirements – for example, confinement areas are permitted to fatten organic beef cattle. (Definition provided by AnimalWelfareApproved.org)

Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA International)

A nonprofit, member-owned organization that is one of the world’s oldest and largest leaders in the organic certification industry. OCIA is committed to environmentally sound stewardship and dedicated to providing the highest quality organic certification services and access to global organic markets. (Definition provided by Organic.org)

Organic Farming

Agriculture that does not use chemicals, genetic modification, or irradiation, using only natural products. The term “organic farming” was first printed in the 1940 publication, Look to the Land, by Lord Northbourne. Not just a technique, but a philosophy, as well. (Definition provided by Organic.org)

Organic Consumers Association (OCA)

A research and action center for the organic and fair trade movements that campaigns for what they refer to as health, justice, and sustainability. The OCA is a proponent of labeling for genetically engineered food. (Definition provided by Organic.org)

Organic Matter

Any material that was recently living or produced by a living organism and is capable of being decomposed. (Definition provided by Organic.org)

Organic Trade Association (OTA)

The Organic Trade Association is a membership-based business association that focuses on the organic business community in North America. The OTA’s mission is to promote and protect the growth of organic trade to benefit the environment, farmers, the public, and the economy. The OTA is a member of IFOAM. (Definition provided by Organic.org)

Paraben-Free

Used to describe products that do not have parabens, which are chemical preservatives added to personal-care products for extending shelf life, and widely used in tens of thousands of types of cosmetic products today. They are suspected of presenting risks to the reproductive system. The four main parabens in use are methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butylparabens. (Definition provided by Organic.org)

Pastured/Pasture-raised

No legal or regulated definition. Implies that animals were raised outdoors on pasture. However, since the term is not regulated or certified, there is no way to ensure if any claim is accurate. (Definition provided by AnimalWelfareApproved.org)

Persistent Toxic Chemicals

Detrimental materials that remain active for a long time after their application and can be found in the environment years, and even decades, after they were used. (Definition provided by Organic.org)

Pesticide

A general term for chemicals used to destroy living things that people consider pests. More specific terms include the following: “Insecticide,” a substance that kills insects; “herbicide,” a substance that kills plants/weeds; “fungicide,” a substance that kills fungi; “fumigant,” a substance that kills all organisms in the soil – a soil sterilizer; and “rodenticide,” a substance that kills rodents. (Definition provided by Organic.org)

Quality Assurance International, Inc. (QAI, Inc.)

Quality Assurance International is considered to be the global leader in organic certification services has now certified more than a quarter of a million organic products. QAI offers organic certification under the National Organic Program for producers, processors, private labelers, distributors, retailers, restaurants, wild crop harvesters, greenhouse, mushrooms, and facilities. QAI also offers “fiber certification” under the American Organic Standards. (Definition provided by Organic.org)

Soil Association Certification Ltd.

United Kingdoms’ leading certifier. They certify up to 80% of Europe’s organic food sold in that country. For more information, www.soilassociation.org (Definition provided by Organic.org)

Sustainable

Capable of being continued with minimal long-term effect on the environment, as with sustainable agriculture, which integrates three main goals: environmental stewardship, farm profitability, and prosperous farming communities. Sustainable development recognizes the need to work with living environments in a balanced manner. (Definition provided by Organic.org)

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

The National Organic Program (NOP) was created under the aegis of the USDA. (Definition provided by Organic.org)

Wild-Crafted

Also appears as “wildcrafted” and sometimes referred to as “wild crops.” A plant gathered in the wild in its natural habitat from a site that is not maintained under cultivation or other agricultural management for manufacturing into a herbal supplement. (Definition provided by Organic.org)

Helpful Links and Additional Glossaries:

Gluten-Free Flour and Starch Glossary (about.com)
“Reading The Leaves: Organic Tea,” by Eden Canon (May 2012)– Visit this article at ethicalfoods.com to learn more about organic vs. conventional tea, artificial and natural flavoring, Fair Trade, Fair Labor and other terms that can affect tea choices.
Tea Glossary (Frontier)
Glossary of Environmental Terms(CA.gov)
Environmental Terms (earth911.com)
Download a printable Food Label Guide (UrbanFarmOnline.com)
How to Decode Food Labels (TheEcologist.com)
Decoding Food Labels (Tufts University)
Glossary of Tricky Ingredients of Food Labels
Search for body care product safety ratings at SkinDeep

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