Pick up any food package, beauty product, or even a box of garbage bags
and no doubt they're stamped with some claim or another. In fact, there
are more than 300 eco-labels out there. But not all are created equal.
Mother Jones is here to set the labels--and consumers-- straight.
In a wonderful,
easy-to-understand guide, Mother Jones magazine looks at what's underneath all of those stamps and seals decorating nearly every product in the supermarket and beyond. They color-code labels colors to make it simple to understand and remember. A "green" marker from Mother Jones means it's the best of the bunch--there's a real certification process, in other words. "Yellow" means it's better than nothing. And "Red?" Well, it means "stop here": This seal/stamp is totally meaningless.
Ones that get the "green" grade from Mother Jones? Biodynamic; 100% Organic, Fair-Trade Certified, and Compostable (along with about 10 or so other labels and seals). But be wary of Natural; Free-Range; Biodegradable; Fragrance Free; Hormone-Free; and Non-Toxic. In other words, if there's no certification process for the claim, producers can call it whatever they want.
The best-case scenario for buying meats and poultry with "free-range" and "all-natural" claims? Make sure it's from a local farmer whose production process has been verified by the store or market. Because USDA "organic" certification truly is a lengthy and costly process most small family farmers can't incur, often the local farmers will do their best to ensure that their farm story is told via store signs or salespeople. And in most cases with small, local farms, you'll find that they are humane and their products are truly hormone-free and all-natural. So don't be afraid to ask questions. It's your right to know. And bring along this handy guide from Mother Jones to make shopping for health and eco-friendly foods easy.