Category Confusion!

 

In either of our Terressentials stores or on our website, you'll notice how we make a big deal about our USDA certification. That's because USDA certification is a big deal. That's why we have big signs in our stores that feature the USDA organic seal and the following words surrounding it: “If it doesn't have the seal, it ain't the real deal.”

 

There are many “organic” and “natural” body care product companies out in the world that will happily fraudulently use the term “organic” without the USDA seal on the labels of their products just to get more customers. And we think that's just wrong.

 

Here at Terressentials we have a different philosophy. Our goal is to educate the world about the word “organic” and the standards that go along with it.

 

When it comes to USDA certified organic labeling, there are three categories. The first is “100% organic”, the second is “organic”, and the third category is “made with organic (materials).” Under the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) federal law, these labeling categories are strictly enforced.

 

On the front panel of a USDA certified product, the label can say the following:

 

• If a product is 100 % organic it can say “100 % Organic [xyz]” and it can display the USDA organic seal. In this labeling category all the ingredients within the product must be certified 100% organic.
• If a product is 95 % organic or more, it can say “Organic [xyz]”, its percentage of certified organic ingredients (such as 95% or 98% organic), and it can bear the USDA seal. The remaining 5 % of ingredients must be listed on the National List of Approved and Prohibited Substances.
• If a product is 70% organic or more, it can say “made with organic (blank) and (blank)”, its percentage of certified organic ingredients (such as 70% or 85% organic), and it can bear the certifying agent seal. It can never bear the USDA organic seal.

 

It is important to note that many organic ingredients are legitimately certified in other countries. The labeling categories of those countries differ from those of the US in that they have just one labeling category – organic. Unfortunately, this does cause confusion crafting products in the US as the USDA NOP requires all ingredients in a 100 % certified organic product to be certified as 100% organic.

 

Though we have numerous products in which every ingredient is certified organic, the inconsistency in the US NOP does not permit us to call our products 100% organic.

 

So, as you see, Terressentials is a different kind of company. We're a company that cares about our customers and wants the best for them – by educating them and providing chemical-free body care product alternatives to the conventional products that can be found on the shelf of any general and specialty food store. We challenge you to read more about the chemicals that are often put on human skin and are washed into our waterways to contaminate the earth we must take care of.

 

Not sure where to start with your personal education? Don't worry! At Terressentials we have many informative news articles to our website, especially this one that has a short list of ingredients to be aware of in personal body care products.

 

To see a USDA produced explanation about labeling categories, see this link and head to page 27!