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Organic Certification Process

Ronald Rainey, Harrison Pittman, Shannon Mirus, Katherine McGraw and, Jennie Popp (2011)

Summary

Products labeled as “organic” or containing the USDA Organic seal have been produced or processed by a grower or handler that meets all of USDA’s requirements under the National Organic Program (NOP). Only producers or processors that have been certified through the National Organic Program are allowed to use the term “organic” on their labels. The NOP is for marketing purposes only; the regulations do not address food safety or nutrition. A food labeled “organic” only carries the guarantee that it was grown and processed under the specified conditions. It is not a health or nutrition statement.