Issues > September/October 2005 (#110) > What's Hidden Under the Label?

What's Hidden Under the Label?

by P.W. McRandle

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about PAUL MCRANDLE

Paul McRandle is National Geograhic Green Guide's Deputy Editor.

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The Smart Green Shopper’s Food and Drink Label Choices

When shopping for food produced in environmentally kinder ways, don’t be fooled by official-looking labels and logos slapped on food. Look first for “Reliable labels,” below. “Less Reliable” labels are worth considering (ask your grocer for more information), but don’t count on the  “Least Reliable” labels (their meaning has not been established).

Reliable Labels (verified by an independent third party)

Label Foods Certified
Bird Friendly: protects tropical bird habitats (si.edu/smbc) coffee
Certified Humane Raised and Handled: pastured, humane care of livestock (certified humane.org) meat, poultry, eggs, dairy
Demeter Biodynamic: no synthetic pesticides, pastured livestock, well-managed agriculture (demeter-usa.org) wine, cheese, eggs, fruit, meat, vegetables
Northeast Eco Apple Project: worker safety, less toxic pesticides (ipminstitute.org) apples from Northeastern states
Fair Trade Certified: ensures farmers receive fair prices (transfairusa.org) coffee, tea, chocolate, tropical fruit, rice, sugar
Food Alliance: low or no pesticides, worker welfare, habitat protection, well-managed agriculture, humane care of livestock (foodalliance.org) milk, frozen food, fruit, wheat, meat, vegetables
Healthy Grown: low pesticides (healthygrown.com) Wisconsin potatoes
Marine Stewardship Council: well-managed fisheries (msc.org) wild-caught fish, wild Alaska salmon
Rainforest Alliance certified: protects rainforests (rainforestalliance.org) bananas, coffee, citrus, cocoa
Salmon safe: protects watersheds (salmonsafe.org) wine,fruit, yogurt, rice
USDA Organic: no hormones, antibiotics, genetic engineering, radiation, synthetic pesticides or fertilizers (ams.usda.gov/nop) meat, shrimp, dairy, wine, beer, produce, processed foods, frozen foods, grain,coffee

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Filed under: Certification and labelling, Certification and eco-labels, Fast Food, Labeling Standards

Smart Shopper's Card | posted October 11, 2005