1. How Do We Label Food?
By Yael Spillinger, Kaitlin Casey, Sam Sundberg, and Sam Krause
Period 6, APES, Ms. Robinson

2. What is “Organic?”
Organic production is a system that is managed in accordance with the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990
Produce and other ingredients grown without the use of:
Pesticides
Synthetic fertilizers
Sewage sludge
Genetically modified organisms
Ionization radiation
Animals that produce meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products do not take antibiotics or growth hormones

3. What qualifies as organic?

4. BUT WHAT ARE WE REALLY BUYING?

5. Discussion Question
When you hear the phrase “food label,” what are some of the common terms, related to environmental science, that come to mind?

6. Trusted Food Labels USDA Organic Food Alliance Fair Trade
United States Department of Agriculture
“Gold standard of organic food”
To earn the label, foods must be produced without the use of: synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, sludge, irradiation, or genetically modified seeds
Food Alliance
Requires that certifiers assess a farm or ranch in five areas: soil and water conservation, safe and fair working conditions for employees, limiting pesticide use and toxicity with integrated pest management, animal welfare, and habitat conservation.
Fair Trade
Economic, social, and environmental criteria: farmers’ wages, safety of working environment, no child labor
Fair Trade premiums are invested in community development, such as training and organic certification
Rainforest Alliance
Independent certification overseen by the Rainforest Alliance
Aims to reduce water pollution and soil erosion, protect human health, conserve wildlife habitat, improve livelihoods, and reduce waste

7. Untrusted Food Labels Grass Fed Free Range/Free Roaming Natural
Should mean that a cow ate only grass
All cows eat grass when they’re young…
Free Range/Free Roaming
“The poultry has been allowed access to the outside” according to the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service
(Five minutes outside is considered adequate for approval)
Natural
Should mean something, but doesn’t always
Raised Without Antibiotics
Should mean no antibiotics at any stage of production

8. Environmentally Friendly
Food Labels Without
Legal Standing
Cruelty Free
Cage Free
Environmentally Friendly
Nature’s Friend
No Chemicals
Vegetarian Fed

10. Benefits of Organic
No chemical pesticides and fertilizers that can harm humans
No expensive spending on the chemicals
Better quality of food (more nutrients)
Better for the environment
Pesticides have been linked to obesity and cancer
*Better taste

11. Drawbacks of Organic More expensive production and for consumers
Hard to sustain with exponentially growing population
Food spoils faster
Food does not look as appetizing
Different shapes and colors
*Better taste

12. Thanks For Your Attention!