What Does Organic mean?

Being a Mom, I strive to keep chemicals out of the house and away from the kids.  My mother thinks it’s a big fuss since her 5 kids grew up strong and healthy, but I say times have changed since waaay back then (my age is not important, lol).  So I’ve been buying not just organic but 100% USDA CERTIFIED ORGANIC… Milk, Chicken, Soap Ingredients, Cleaners, and more. Those living with me noticed a difference too; which lead me to go further and learn about essential oils and that lead me to a job change. Now I spend my days working to inform others of the benefits.  Reading labels and searching for organic products made me see how confusing all the “healthy” claims can be. I finally got to know the difference between Certified Organic and claims like “Pure”.

Here’s what cleared it up for me:

CERTIFIED ORGANIC vs PURE:

Certified Organic means the plants used are grown without toxic pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers. It’s regulated by the USDA.

“Pure” means plants were used. The plants can be grown in any condition, with chemicals and pesticides and still be considered pure.  The “Pure” products are NOT regulated by anyone.  They are not Organic.

By law Organic products must be certified by the USDA.  

Only 100% Certified Organic products can bear the USDA Certified Organic Seal on the Label.

To be CERTIFIED all ingredients must meet or GO ABOVE & BEYOND the USDA’s STRICT STANDARDS.

Pure is just 100% of something. How that something is grown is what makes it organic or not and how that organic plant passes the USDA’s standards and testing verifies if it is 100% Certified Organic.   

So basically, drinking Pure orange juice means you’re just drinking oranges but it doesn’t say how those oranges were grown or what they were grown in. It doesn’t mean they are organic.

Please, be in the know of how your plants grow if you go organic.

Wishing You Great Health & Happiness!

D.Murphy

Mom, Wife, Daughter, Friend