It is no secret that in most parts of the world, people are slowly beginning to incorporate organic products into their lifestyles. This transition has taken a vast swerve from the normal, conventionally processed products. Startups and existing companies are delving deeper into the science of organic components to produce quality products such as organic supplements.
Nonetheless, these products are nourishing and safe for people to consume and enjoy while upholding their immunity. Let us discuss what you need to look out for in brands that sell organic supplements before purchasing from them.
What Are Organic Products?
Organic products are produced in the absence of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or other genetically modified components. Organic farmers do so because chemical elements tend to compromise biodiversity and symbiotic relationships, which causes ill health to the consumer. Thus, governments globally champion people to make the necessary switch to organic and pure products.
Organic products are foods produced by methods complying with the standards of organic farming. Organic farming features practices that cycle resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity.
Organic products include:
- Foods such as vegetables and fruits.
- Supplements such as weight loss supplements.
- Beauty products such as foundations and soaps, among others.
What to Look Out for Before Purchasing from Brands that Sell Organic Products
Registration
The production company should be registered with a program that supports organic products, such as the NPO (National Organic Program). The National Organic Program develops the rules and regulations for the production, handling, labeling, and enforcement of all products under the USDA. In order to do so, the program has employed a Federal Advisory Committee. It maintains a handbook with guidance and policy memos, and relevant documents that communicate the organic standards of the board.
Certification
The product should be organically certified by a certifying agent registered within the country or globally. In the United States, one such agent is the USDA (The United States Department of Agriculture) which provides seals after approving the products. By doing so, the buyer can verify that the product is nationally approved for safe human consumption. The agency also provides a checklist that comprises all the brands that it has approved and accorded the seal.
Organic Composition
The product should consist of 95% or more of organic components. Even though most organic products guarantee 100% organic composition, you will likely find that these products contain a small amount of additives. Thus, the recommended percentage of organic composition is 95%, and therefore, as a buyer, one should look out for such. The USDA organic standards have been simply split into rules that are said to determine the 95% to 99% composition of organic products. These rules are:
- The product must bear the USDA organic seal.
- The product must be certified organically.
- The product contains 95% or more of organic components.
PLU Codes
The product should contain a PLU code that helps to verify the product at the check-out point. Price look-up codes, otherwise known as PLU codes, include prefixes which are codes that signify whether a product is genetically engineered or organically produced. There is, however, a proposition 37 in California for genetically engineered products to be deregistered from PLU codes so that only organic products are identifiable.
Labeling
The NPO and OFPA (Organic Foods Production Act) have come up with stringent regulations on how companies should conduct their labeling and the percentage required to approve the use of the USDA seal. Mislabeling is typical among market products therefore, these regulations have reduced the confusion that would arise concerning organic labeling standards.
Production Techniques Used:
It is best to research and find out about the safety precautions taken by the company producing the product you want to purchase. Find out the techniques used to ensure that the product is safe for your consumption and you could even look out for certification. You could choose to ask the seller in the store if they are aware of such information or you could find out from the website of the organic supplement producer. Locally produced products are rarely officially certified because they are made in small quantities; thus, certification costs may be too high.
Green Marketing
Look out for green marketed products. Due to the rapid growth in the organic market, many companies are trying to cash into the market through green marketing practices, which include:
- Using organic context such as free-range to label their products so that they can trap a less keen buyer to buy the product.
- Designing their packages to resemble those of organically produced products.
Green Washing
Look out for signs of greenwashing as well. Greenwashing tendencies are false claims by producers insisting that they are organic yet there is no explanation or evidence that points out how their products are made. Given the current popularity and market of organic weight loss supplements, non-organic companies are attempting to greenwash their products. The non-organic companies use organic context and terms such as eco-friendly to brainwash buyers into buying products that may not be organically approved.
Organic stores
Try shopping from stores that only deal in organic products, and in this case, those that only deal with organic supplements. Furthermore, these supplements vary with uses, such as weight loss supplements, amongst others. Buying from organic stores helps in reducing the chances of encountering green marketed and greenwashed products.
Multi nutrient supplements
Look out for products that promote other benefits aside from the one the product is established or well known for. For example, weight loss supplements that have active ingredients of weight loss but also consist of other nutrients such as vitamin C. Multi nutrient supplement is definitely a pro since most non-organic supplements have been proven to be anti-nutrient as they contain significant synthetic composition.
Phytonutrients
Look out for brands that sell organic supplements which contain phytonutrients, thus promoting health. Phytonutrients are great antioxidants that reduce cell damage in the body. Phytonutrients affect the hormones and immune system in a positive way, and they also act as antibacterial and antiviral agents which help your body to remain healthy.
Prince Charles once stated that “it is vitally important that we continue to say, with absolute conviction, that organic farming delivers the highest quality, best-tasting food, produced without artificial chemicals or genetic modification, and with respect for animal welfare and the environment while helping to maintain the landscape and rural communities.”
After crucial scrutiny of the brand you intend to purchase your supplements, it is safe to say that organic products are revolutionizing food and similar industries worldwide.
