If you are confused about all the terminology used to describe foods and supplements, you are in good company. Did you know that the terms lite and light mean nothing, other than what the manufacturer wants them to mean? But when it comes to the terms organic and natural, though, the waters can be even muddier.
Those latter terms play a prominent role when talking about the production of foods and supplements. First, we have the regulatory laws. Under the Organic Food Production Act (OFPA), the National Organic Program (NOP) of the USDA establishes the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List), a list of synthetic substances that are permitted and the natural substances that are prohibited for organic production.
What this means is that when a product is labeled organic or made with organic substances, that substance must first be classified as agricultural or nonagricultural. The nonagricultural substances are nonorganic and are, therefore, further classified as natural (or nonsynthetic), or synthetic; and thus are then placed on the National List. Further, all these terms--agricultural, nonagricultural, natural (nonsynthetic), synthetic--are defined in the law (and litigated to death), whose definition of which determines whether a substance is allowed or prohibited in organic foods, and subsequently, whether it gets placed on the National List.
Discussions have gone on in the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) for years as to which of the four classifications a substance belongs in. And the debate is about to heat up even more. Last week (April 2, 2013), draft guidance on the Classification of Materials and Materials for Organic Crop Production was published in the Federal Register. The intent of the new guidance is to implement and clarify previous recommendations of existing practices of the NOSB. This writer finds that interesting, that we taxpayers now have to fund work that is wasted, since it appears that the previous recommendations were not implemented or even evaluated. That means there was no evaluation incorporated into previous recommendations and no follow-up. THAT is what you call wasting taxpayers money. (Of course, isnt that what the government often does? Implements laws and regulations, then never follows up on them, never evaluates them, and never enforces them!)
Nonetheless, this newest debate will certainly perk up the interest of the food industry. Whether it will clarify all the litigation for claims that something is not natural or not organic remains to be seen. Regardless, you can bet that the proposed new guidelines and defining whether a substance is natural or synthetic will be on the agenda of every food industry corporations board meetings. Is the National List the bible? Can the industrys PACs do enough damage to throw up enough flack that the government just does not know what to do next? No matter which side you sit on here, you should pay attention to what is being proposed, and the impact it will have on the food industry as a whole. For consumers, it could just as well keep the status quo--muddied waters.
As a weight watcher, we would all do well to stick to a diet of food that rots (everything fresh), and patronize our local farmers markets. If farmers are claiming their produce is organic or natural, then ask them what that means. Even if you shop at Whole Foods, and you see a sign that says 'organic,' educate yourself as to what that means. If you are buying a food product (boxed, canned), then you still need to know what you are buying and putting into your body. We all have a responsibility to be informed consumers.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Click here to read what was published in the Federal Register April 2. A fat reducing overview can help you produce a clear outline of what you demand to focus on to carry out your fat burning target if you're a rookie; or serve as a reminder for these who are at an intermediate or more advance step of their weight-loss strategy. Applying are seven steps that can serve as methods for your personal weight loss program. The first thing that one must understand is that losing weight and losing fat is not the same. Many weight loss courses have fooled people into considering that it is the same, but most diets and weight loss plans only work by resulting in a person's body to reduce more muscle tissue and water than actual body fat, more help please visit The Fat Loss Factor. Comments are due by June 3, 2013.
Note: From the FDA Law Blog April 5: The existing regulations are complex and appear in some aspects internally inconsistentThe guidance does not address these apparent inconsistencies or clarify why, for example, vitamins and minerals are listed as synthetic substances. The guidance further does not acknowledge the existence of FDAs or the Food Safety and Inspection Services natural policies and it is not clear to what extent, NOP has or will take these into account in its determinations. Thus, once again, as a taxpayer, one has to ask just what the purpose of this new guidance is, and is it really going to solve any problem.
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