I feel like we need legends for food labels. What is real and what is greenwashing? What labels can we really trust? During my last trip to the grocery store I noticed a new label that I had not seen before. BPA Free Lining it read. Okay, now this is something of interest to me, but can I trust that the lining of the can is actually BPA free or has the company just slapped this label onto their products while evil laughing? In this case I chose to trust Eden Foods because I know their stance on food safety and GMO labeling. If this had been another company, even a bigger company, I may not have believed what their label was saying.
And there in lies the problem. Buying food shouldn't take so much research or leaps of faith. Reading labels should be easy. Here are the Top 5 Food Labels that you should look for the next time you are grocery shopping. These labels are third party verified so you can trust that when you see it on a product that the product is meeting the required standards.
Organic certification is highly regulated and is an easy way to know that the food you are buying is safe and free from pesticides. There are set rules for when the labels can be used and what exactly that means. Read more here. If a product is labeled as 100% Organic then it is also GMO free.
GMO's are a scary unknown and the Non-GMO Project label is an easy way for you to trust that the food you are buying is free from GMO's. This label does not mean that the product is organic. Your best bet is to buy products that have both the Non-GMO Project label and the Organic Certification label.
Fair trade labeling is important when you are buying coffee, tea,sugar, bananas and chocolate. It ensures that the farmer who grew the product you are buying was compensated fairly. This certification also focuses on increased environmental and social standards for the products. A product that is labeled as Fair Trade does not mean that it is organic or GMO free. If it is then you will also see those labels on the product.
This label is the hardest one for me because it is the hardest one to find. I have had to stop buying seafood because I can not find sustainable options at our local stores. Buying seafood that is not certified sustainable means that you are supporting practices that put marine life in jeopardy. Look for sustainable seafood labels on the menu at your favourite restaurant too. If they are serving sustainable seafood they will be proud to show it off!
Which labels do you look for? Which ones do you struggle with?
Related Posts - Check them Out
Replacing GMO Foods
Unjunking Our Junk Food
Grocery Store Adventures
Is Ocean Wise just a local BC thing? More and more restaurants are providing Ocean Wise verified seafood options which is great. http://aansonline.ca/archives/sp10/TheodoraGeach-OceanWise-SP10.pdf
ReplyDeleteI find it so frustrating when labels are not actually what they claim to be. I have Celiac's disease, so I look for gluten free, but not all GF labels are actually GF. I imagine Organic is very much like that. It's good to know there are good companies out there!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this! This is something I have been meaning to look into for a LONG time. Right now the only ones I trust are USDA organic and Non-GMO Project verified. Glad to know there are a few more.
ReplyDeleteIt is so so frustrating to me that companies can basically lie on their labels, but its nice to be reminded of the "real" ones. Thanks!
ReplyDelete@Gillian - It looks like Ocean Wise is a Vancouver Aquarium program. Great that you have a local program of that importance!
ReplyDelete@May - That is super frustrating when there are health implications of people eating non GF food when they think it is GF!
ReplyDeleteOrganic is the main one I look for. I gave up believing in labels and now avoid all canned foods as well as prepackaged and already prepared items available.
ReplyDeleteGreat info! I need to look for the No GMO label more. :)
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the document I linked to, there is a list of restaurants across the country that are participated in the Ocean Wise program. (I didn't see it before I sent my first comment.) There are only a few in each province, maybe about 10 in Ontario, but it's something!
ReplyDeleteBeth Terry (plastic free fame) worries that BPA free is even less tested. So I'm not sure if that's better or worse. At least you know which way it is, unlike here in Australia where I've not seen any cans labelled with regards to plastics
ReplyDeleteIt is true that some of the alternatives to BPA are less tested (because they are newer) but that is true for all chemicals. I think all you can do is go off the information you have on hand now and make your choices accordingly. Limiting your exposure to any chemical is always the best route.
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