Hey Rosés,

In honor of Earth Day and Earth Week, I want to explore two of the biggest buzz words in beauty, health and nutrition… “natural” and “organic.” Many vow to only eat organic and natural products, or only use beauty products with those labels. Not that I’m opposed to being selective and attempting a healthier lifestyle, but I do feel those on the natural and organic snob train should understand the meanings and regulations (or lack thereof) behind the labels.

Many of your favorite foods and products labeled organic and natural are only partially derived of certified ingredients, and even those are not heavily regulated. Marketing jargon also allows producers and manufacturers to incorporate language that can be misleading.

Take a look and form your own opinion:

FOOD

Summary

From the Food Marketing Institute

In food regulation, organic and natural have two different definitions, both in what they mean and how they are derived. Organic production and handling is certified by 3^rd party organizations that are accredited but not regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) or the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) directly. Beyond typical food regulations and health codes, foods and ingredients labeled natural are not regulated by the FDA.

Definitions

From the Food Marketing Institute

Organic – Refers to the food or ingredient itself and how it was produced. Foods labeled organic must be certified under the National Organic Program (NOP), which regulates the growing and farming methods. They must be grown without synthetic pesticides, bioengineered genes, petroleum-based fertilizers and sewage based fertilizers.

Natural – Applies broadly to food or ingredients that are minimally processed and free of synthetic preservatives, artificial additives, and growth hormones.

Key Facts

From the Food Marketing Institute and the FDA

• The term “organic” is not defined by law or regulations FDA enforces
• The USDA states that the lack of pesticides can make organic food vulnerable to bacteria and parasites, and also have a shorter shelf life
• Products labeled “100 percent organic” must contain only organically produced materials
• Products labeled “organic” must contain at least 95 percent organic ingredients
• Products that contain between 70 and 95 percent organic ingredients may use the phrase “made with organic ingredients” on the label and may list up to three of the organic ingredients (e.g., carrots) or food groups (e.g., vegetables) on the principal display area
• Products with less than 70 percent organic ingredients may not use the term organic other than to identify specific organic ingredients

COSMETICS

Summary

From the FDA

Certification requirements for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients are similar to the certifications for food, as a majority of ingredients are edible food and plant derived. Cosmetic products are regulated by FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN).

Key Facts

From the FDA

Does FDA have a definition for the term “organic”?

No. FDA regulates cosmetics under the authority of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) and the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA). The term “organic” is not defined in either of these laws or the regulations that FDA enforces under their authority.

How is the term “organic” regulated?

The Agricultural Marketing Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversees the National Organic Program (NOP). The NOP regulations include a definition of “organic” and provide for certification that agricultural ingredients have been produced under conditions that would meet the definition. They also include labeling standards based on the percentage of organic ingredients in a product. For more information on “organic” labeling for cosmetics, see the NOP publication, “Cosmetics, Body Care Products, and Personal Care Products.”

If a cosmetic is labeled “organic” according to the USDA, is it still subject to the laws and regulations enforced by FDA?

Yes. The USDA requirements for the use of the term “organic” are separate from the laws and regulations that FDA enforces for cosmetics. Cosmetic products labeled with organic claims must comply with both USDA regulations for the organic claim and FDA regulations for labeling and safety requirements for cosmetics. Information on FDA’s regulation of cosmetics is available on our Cosmetics Web site.

Image via VanityRich.com

Has FDA set limits for lead in cosmetics?

No, FDA has not set limits for lead in cosmetics. FDA has set specifications for lead in color additives used in cosmetics. FDA approval of color additives is based on safety evaluations that consider the color additives’ intended uses and estimated consumer exposure resulting from those uses. FDA-approved color additives are listed in Title 21 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). To learn more about FDA-approved color additives, see Color Additives.

What are FDA’s next steps for lead in lipstick?

Although we do not believe that the lead content found in our recent lipstick analyses poses a safety concern, we are evaluating whether there may be a need to recommend an upper limit for lead in lipstick in order to further protect the health and welfare of consumers.

USDA offers organic certification programs

To be safe and as accurate as possible, check for the USDA Organic certified logo on products, ingredients and foods. Organic and natural products are great alternatives for sensitive skin and allergies. It’s important to scrutinize what you put in and on your body, but remember the Champagne Beauty saying “not all organic is good, and not all synthetic is bad.”

Knowledge is POWER! Happy Earth Day!

References:
Food & Drug Administration
Food Marketing Institute
National Organic Program (NOP)

Taste the beautiful life ~ Alicia