Food Labeling Glossary

Deciphering labels while shopping can be confusing This helpful glossary includes logos and certifications you’ll find on everyday food labels so you know more about what you’re buying and eating. When in doubt, ask your co-op staff for help!

Organic

Only USDA Certified Organic products have this label, which requires operations to use practices that cycle resources, conserve biodiversity, and preserve ecological balance using natural fertilizers, eco-friendly pest control, and soil preservation. Look for the following:

  • Made with 100% Organic Ingredients: must contain only organically produced ingredients and processing aids; no other ingredients or additives are permitted.

  • Organic: at least 95% organic ingredients

  • Made with Organic ______ : must contain at least 70% organic ingredients

Genetically Modified Organisms - GMOs

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are foods produced in the laboratory to meet precise individual specifications. Unlike plant breeding, changes to the food are made at the cellular level.

Under the USDA's National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard (NBFDS), some – but not all – products containing GMOs must be labeled in the United States. To avoid GMOs, look for labels like this one by the The Non-GMO Project, which certifies products do not contain GMOs.

Certified Humane

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There are no federal standards for terms like “free range” or “pasture raised.” Look to products labeled Certified Humane, which have been inspected and verified by Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC), a national non-profit. The goal of the program is to improve the lives of farm animals by expanding consumer awareness, driving the demand for kinder and more responsible farm animal practices.

When you see the Certified Humane Raised and Handled® label on a product you can be assured that the food products have come from operations that meet precise, objective standards for farm animal treatment.

Fairtrade

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We all want to feel good about our food choices, and buying produce from a local farmer makes it easy. But what about food that comes from afar?

In some communities around the world, impoverished workers are paid low wages while their land is depleted by industrial agriculture. Fairtrade it is a global movement where shoppers and companies prioritize people and the environment through trade. By choosing certified products, you are putting more bargaining power back into the hands of farmers and workers and investing in a global system built to make fair trade the norm.

Learn more about the Fairtrade mural at the Lawrence location!