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Amidst nutrition facts, ingredient lists, and dietary claims on food packages, “organic” might appear as one more piece of information to decipher when shopping for products.  Understanding what the organic label means can help shoppers make informed purchasing choices.

Organic is a labeling term found on products that have been produced using cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that support the cycling of on-farm resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity. The National Organic Program – part of USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service – enforces the organic regulations, ensuring the integrity of the USDA Organic Seal.

In order to make an organic claim or use the USDA Organic Seal, the final product must follow strict production, handling and labeling standards and go through the organic certification process.  The standards address a variety of factors such as soil quality, animal raising practices, and pest and weed control.  Synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation, and genetic engineering may not be used.  

Organic producers rely on natural substances and physical, mechanical, or biologically based farming methods to the fullest extent possible.  Organic produce must be grown on soil that had no prohibited substances (most synthetic fertilizers and pesticides) applied for three years prior to harvest.  As for organic meat, the standards require that animals are raised in living conditions accommodating their natural behaviors, fed organic feed, and not administered antibiotics or hormones. 

There are four distinct labeling categories for organic products – 100 percent organic, organic, “made with” organic ingredients, and specific organic ingredients.  

In the “100 Percent Organic” category, products must be made up of 100 percent certified organic ingredients.  The label must include the name of the certifying agent and may include the USDA Organic Seal and/or the 100 percent organic claim.  

In the “Organic” category, the product and ingredients must be certified organic, except where specified on National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances.  Non-organic ingredients allowed per the National List may be used, but no more than five percent of the combined total ingredients may contain non-organic content.  Additionally, the label must include the name of the certifying agent, and may include the USDA Organic Seal and/or the organic claim.

For multi-ingredient products in the “made with” organic category, at least 70 percent of the product must be certified organic ingredients.  The organic seal cannot be used on the product, and the final product cannot be represented as organic – only up to three ingredients or ingredient categories can be represented as organic.  Any remaining ingredients are not required to be organically produced but must be produced without excluded methods (genetic engineering). All non-agricultural products must be allowed on the National List.  For example, processed organic foods may contain some approved non-agricultural ingredients, like enzymes in yogurt, pectin in fruit jams, or baking soda in baked goods.

Multi-ingredient products with less than 70 percent certified organic content would fall under the “specific organic ingredients,” and don’t need to be certified. These products cannot display the USDA Organic Seal or use the word organic on the principal display panel.  They can list certified organic ingredients in the ingredient list and the percentage of organic ingredients. 

Becoming familiar with organic labeling allows consumers to make informed decisions about the products they purchase.  Consumers can be assured that the integrity of USDA organic products are verified from farm to market. You can learn more about organic labeling by visiting: Labeling Organic Products.

What is confusing though is that single ingredient items imported from the EU can only be labeled "organic" rather than "100% organic" because the EU does not recognize the "100%" designation. This is confusing for consumers, because they then want to know what the "other 5%" is when the single ingredient is, in fact, 100% organic.

We (Del Monte Fresh Produce) currently ship certified organic product from several different Central and South American countries. Due to the limitations for corrugated packaging, we do NOT have the luxury of printing the USDA organic seal in either 4-colors or in the black (black is not a color used by Del Monte on secondary packaging). We have historically printed the label in green as has many other importers without issue. We would like to have this option reviewed by the USDA so that we do not continually run afoul of inspection agencies on the farms. Also, understand that printing a special label to go on each carton is both labor intensive and more expensive.

Regards, MD Marlin, Jr. VP Corporate Packaging Del Monte Fresh Produce Coral Gables, FL

Please what are the four specific colors and what do they mean?

and are these the other seals: 2. Black 3. Blue 4. White

@Kristie Work - To protect the integrity of the USDA organic seal, only two color options are allowed: the green-white-brown version, or the black-white version.  These parameters are described in the USDA organic regulations, and are summarized at: https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/organic/organic-seal. Variations in color are not permitted. We do allow a transparent background in place of the white for black and white printing (e.g., if the seal is printed in black ink on a cardboard box, the background does not have to be white ink).  There is no allowance for blue or other colors besides those allowed in the regulations. Anyone with evidence that the USDA organic regulations have been violated can submit a complaint. Here’s how: https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/enforcement/organic/file-complaint

Do products certified as organic in Taiwan also fall under the USDA Organic Certification ? I get different answers. One source says that any products that are certified by Taiwan Ministry Of Health also fall under USDA Organic Cert Program. Another source says Certified Organic products in Taiwan are not recognised by USA nor by any countries. So if I have a product that’s certified organic in Taiwan and I’m selling in US without a USDA organic certification, is this allowed ?

@Rach - Organic products imported to the U.S. from Taiwan must be certified to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic regulations by a USDA-accredited certifier. Products certified to the USDA standards anywhere in the world may be shipped to the U.S. and sold as organic. Products must comply with the organic regulations and should follow general U.S. trade policy. 

A list of USDA certified operations located in Taiwan is available in the Organic Integrity Database.

The USDA organic label is losing value. Laws are becoming less demanding and changes are being made to what "organic" means. The USDA even recognizes hydroponic grown produce as organic. The organic label is about as accurate as the "all natural" label seen on highly processed foods. If it's not labeled as nongmo project, it's probably not worth getting. Until the USDA takes responsibility for maintaining the integrity of the organic label and actually caring about the well being of the country, nothing will change.

@Ronald Beaver - thank you for your comment. The USDA National Organic Program (NOP) develops national standards for organically-produced agricultural products. The same standards apply to all USDA certified farms and businesses, including hydroponic operations. Certification of hydroponic production systems has been allowed since the National Organic Program began.

I'm working on a particular project where, because of colour limitations, black ink is unavailable. We also do not have the opportunity to add add'l pantones colours. The 6 colours we're allowed are already accounted for. That means the CMYK version won't work either. Is there an option that allows for the darkest ink colour available to be used in place of black?

@Marlee - thank you for your comment. The USDA organic seal is an official mark of the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service and its use is protected by federal law. The organic regulations currently allow two different color schemes when using the organic seal. Additional guidance on use of the USDA organic seal is available online at: www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/organic/organic-seal.

I would like to point out that in the CFR Title 7 Subpart D section 205.311 (a)The USDA seal described in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section may be used only for raw or processed agricultural products described in paragraphs (a), (b), (e)(1), and (e)(2) of §205.301.

Could you please tell me where is (c) of this section? I would like to know what it is so that I may make sure that I am following the CFR's correctly.

When can we actually have FOOD without anything Genetically Altered, or Grown or Sprayed with any Chemical ? When I say Chemical, I mean substance of any kind listed as can do any harm in any amount no matter how minimal YOU say it is. I am pesticide TOXIC, MERCURY AND LEAD TOXIC AND HAVE BECOME SEVERELY IMMUNE COMPROMISED. I eat an all organic diet, including 100% grass fed meat now for over 13 years and still test positive for pesticide overload. I purify my water and spend a fortune seeing doctors. How much is this putting a smile on your face? I have no money to spend on life because I'm busy spending my savings on trying to stay alive from a compromised immune system. I can't eat bread, grains, legumes or even milk. Do realize how much that impairs your eating? How about you? I can't go on vacations or fun.

Understand that all organic products sold in USA must be certified to the USDA NOP organic regulations. Australian certified organic is currently not recognised by USDA. Is it allowed then to sell a 'conventional' product but at the back of pack still list use of Australian certified organic ingredients?

@Sophie Tan - thank you for your comment. In the U.S., if you want to sell, label or claim that a product or its ingredients are organic, your final product generally needs to be certified to the USDA organic regulations. Organic products imported to the U.S. must comply with the USDA organic regulations or be certified to an equivalent international standard, meet U.S. labeling requirements, and maintain organic integrity during the import process. If your product is not certified to one of these standards, you must not make any organic claim on the principal display panel or use the USDA organic seal anywhere on the package. On the information panel, you may identify USDA-certified ingredients and ingredients certified to an equivalent standard as organic and identify the percentage of organic ingredients included in the final product.

what's the difference between organic green label and the black label ？ for different content of organic ingredient？

@Danny - thank you for your comment. There is no difference between colors.

Regulations (§ 205.311 USDA Seal) state that the organic label can only be used in the following color formats:

In looking at the packaging for "Physician's Choice Ashwagandha," I see that the front panel says "made with organic ashwagandha," and that the back panel lists the two main ingredients as "organic". The packaging also claims that it is "certified Organic by 'Organic Certifiers'." (Here's their website: https://organiccertifiers.com/ )

There is no other information about certification.

Is it lawful to claim that the product is made with organic ingredients?

My concern is prompted by my (adult) son's purchase of this product.

I can email photos of the box, if you like.

@Laurel Hanke - thank you for your comment. "Made with Organic" is a labeling category for products certified to the USDA organic regulations. Access the Organic Labels Explained infographic to learn more about these categories.

The Organic Integrity Database is a searchable database that can be used to find information on certified organic operations and USDA-Accredited Certifying Agents. The database lists the company name for each certified operation and the products they are certified to produce or process. It is possible that a product’s brand name is different from the manufacturer’s or packer’s name. When searching the database, you may need to look for the manufacturer or packer shown on the back of the product label, rather than for the product’s brand name. A search of the database shows that Organic Certifiers, Inc. (OC) is a USDA-approved certifier.

I am a designer and letterpress printer making labels for food manufacturers. We are using the black transparent logo on colored paper. Consistent with your example below of the transparent logo being printed on a cardboard box, it sounds like we are fine printing on colored paper as long as we are using the black logo. We have tried reversing the organic logo and printing it in white ink on black paper, but this is raising flags, because the white doesn't come out bright white. Can you comment on this application, and verify that if the background paper is a color, we are good to go with a black transparent organic logo?

@Jami y Heinricher - thank you for your comment. The organic regulations (§ 205.311 USDA Seal) state that the organic label can only be used in the following color formats:

For more information, visit the NOP’s Organic Seal web page.

I'm importing food products from Japan which are USDA certified organic products. These products are manufactured and packaged in Japan and will be shipped to US and labeled under my company's brand. So can I put USDA organic label on them with my company's brand instead of it's manufacturer's name when I'm selling them in here? Thanks.

Is it OK to use the USDA Organic logo on a website?

@MP - thank you for your comment. See below for information about the USDA Organic Seal.

So if Walmart brand says it's USDA certified organic - specifically their frozen produce products it means the produce can from anywhere in the world? So if it's coming from China who actually goes to these other countries to "Certify" " they actually follow the certified rules/regs?? After they are approved is there any follow up (even in the USA) that they are continuing to meet the specs?

@Roxanne - thank you for your comment. USDA authorizes organizations around the world to certify farms and businesses to the USDA organic regulations. Products certified to the USDA standards anywhere in the world may be shipped to the U.S. and sold as organic. All imported organic agricultural products must comply with the organic regulations, meet U.S. labeling requirements, maintain organic integrity during the import process, and meet all general or commodity-specific import requirements.

USDA-accredited certifiers are responsible for protecting organic integrity by overseeing these complex supply chains that move organic products globally. We have invested significant effort with these third-party organic certifiers to build their capabilities through increased training on mass balance calculations and supply chain traceability, detecting violations and deterring fraud.

I want to buy the turmeric powder made by "simply organic", however, the USDA organic label on the bottle of the "simply organic turmeric 2.38oz" look a little difference from your symbol shown on your website. The difference is the color of the label, it is back and white, instead of green and white as shown on your website. Is the black and white USDA Organic label is not authentic? and it is not the same as yours? Please response. If it is not authentic, I will not buy this product. Thank you very much for your help.

@Amy Wong - thank you for your comment. The USDA organic seal is an official mark protected by federal regulation and overseen by the AMS National Organic Program (NOP). The USDA organic standards allows the seal to be printed in full color, which includes a specific shade of green, brown, and white, or it can be printed in black and white. For more on use of the organic seal, access www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/organic/organic-seal.

I bought a jar of pickled ginger with the USDA Organic label, but in tiny print on the back it says the country of origin is China. How can the USDA insure the processing is organic in China?

As far as I can see, you're doing a great job at answering questions, Ben. Yes, some of them are a bit redundant and it seems people don't read existing comments but it doesn't seem to phase you. Over 3 years of you doing this and no one replied with a thanks. So... Thanks!

I'd like to make a suggestion: In regards to the specific color usage of the seal on products - I see you keep pointing out things in this comments section, that's in a different section than the actual link you keep providing. the usage isn't ENTIRELY clear due to legalese:

The Organic Seal How is use of the USDA Organic seal protected?

People who sell or label a product "organic" when they know it does not meet USDA standards can be fined up to $17,952 for each violation.

Before downloading a copy of the USDA Organic Seal (referred to as the "USDA Seal" in the regulations), read the Required Specifications as Found in the National Organic Program Regulations.

Organic Seal Pantone Matching System (PMS) Colors

NOP Regulations: Subpart D - Labels, Labeling, and Market Information

The labeling requirements of the NOP apply to raw, fresh products and processed products that contain organic agricultural ingredients. Agricultural products that are sold, labeled, or represented as organic must be produced and processed in accordance with the NOP standards. Except for operations whose gross income from organic sales totals $5,000 or less, farm and processing operations that grow and process organic agricultural products must be certified by USDA-accredited certifying agents.

(a) The USDA seal described in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section may be used only for raw or processed agricultural products described in paragraphs (a), (b), (e)(1), and (e)(2) of § 205.301.

(b) The USDA seal must replicate the form and design of the example in figure 1 and must be printed legibly and conspicuously:

(1) On a white background with a brown outer circle and with the term, “USDA,” in green overlaying a white upper semicircle and with the term, “organic,” in white overlaying the green lower half circle; or

(2) On a white or transparent background with black outer circle and black “USDA” on a white or transparent upper half of the circle with a contrasting white or transparent "organic" on the black lower half circle.

(3) The green or black lower half circle may have four light lines running from left to right and disappearing at the point on the right horizon to resemble a cultivated field.

It doesn't specifically say that OTHER colors can't be used. I know it states what colors are provided. It simply states "The USDA seal must replicate the form and design of the example in figure 1" but then you go on to figure 2, which negates the initial statement.

might I suggest that in section b you say "The USDA seal must replicate the form, color and design of the example in figures 1, 2 and 3 and must be printed legibly and conspicuously"

In addition might I suggest that you provide a pdf of a proper usage guidelines with visuals on do's and do not's in regards to the specific sizing, color usage with a how and how not to use it, and place it before all the logo downloads and reference it in NOP Regulations: Subpart D.

This would provide a clear blueprint to all designers, printers and companies in regards to the usage, otherwise the legalese allows for misinterpretation due to the brevity and lack of clarity.

Do 100% organic products have to have the manufacturer/manufacturer address/contacts on them?

@Ivy - thank you for your comment. Organic product labels must state on the information panel the name of the product handler or distributor and the name of the certifying agent that certified the organic production or handling operation that produced or handled the finished product.

For more information on USDA-certified organic requirements, please see Organic Labels Explained.

Looking for some clarification on the placement of the "certified organic by ***" statement. This seems to be the biggest issue with my certifier.

the reg says that the "certified organic by ***" needs to be below the handler/distributor information which I take to mean below/following. Does this really need to be "directly underneath" the distributor information or can it be following it, Such as:

Distributed by **** | 0100 south Street | Certified by ******

curious if they are just taking the wording too literally or if this is something every certifier will have an issue with?

Could a company sell organic out of country, food product in U.S. , but not have a USDA Organic label on the product. Would not that be a illegal???

I'd like to see a comparison of USDA Biobased products and USDA Certified organic products. Many people are confused and see the USDA letters and believe its the same thing. If you could provide a comparison between the two standards that would be great .

Who enforces the proper use of the seal? Anyone can add that image to their label. If I see a product with your seal, how do I check?

@Allen - thank you for your comment. The USDA organic seal is an official mark protected by federal regulation and overseen by the AMS National Organic Program (NOP). The USDA organic standards allows the seal to be printed in full color, which includes a specific shade of green, brown, and white, or it can be printed in black and white. For more on use of the organic seal, access www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/organic/organic-seal.

Are there any documents that state the requirements for the use of the seal in marketing, corporate documentation and other types of communication? I would like to know the specific requirements.

@Cindy Ormaza - thank you for your comment. The USDA organic seal is an official mark of the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). The USDA organic seal is protected by federal regulation (7 CFR Part 205.311). AMS is responsible for monitoring seal use, and making sure that the seal is not used in a way that would negatively impact the value, integrity, or security of the seal as a marketing tool for certified organic products.

All labels and marketing materials that use the USDA Organic Seal in association with certified products must be reviewed and approved by a USDA-accredited certifying agent before being used in the marketplace. To avoid costly errors, certified organic producers and handlers wishing to display the USDA Organic Seal need to contact their certifying agent and request a review of the label or marketing material before printing.

The USDA Organic Seal may be used in materials not intended for marketing organic products, pending approval by the USDA National Organic Program (NOP). Examples of approved uses are:

Those who wish to use the USDA organic seal in media should submit a request to the NOP at least two weeks in advance of the publication date. Please contact pa@usda.gov and include a description of the article in which the seal will be used (e.g., publication, audience, intent) and a draft of the article, if possible.

The USDA Organic Seal may not be altered in any way. Here is the exact specs: www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/organic/organic-seal.

Hello I was wondering how to verify if the product is in fact USDA certified. I tried searching various brands of a particular type of product on your organic integrity database to no avail. Maybe I'm not searching correctly I've entered the company names in the "Operation Name" or " Certified Products" to no avail. The products are sold on Amazon and most of the brands don't seem to have their own website. I thought about contacting the companies directly for a certificate but I don't want to come off as rude.

Any suggestions on how I can look up these certifications? The product is a natural dye powder made from plants.

Hi, I printed my labels with the organic logo and the store wants me to verification can you help with that?

Thank you so much again.

Hello, I am importing extra virgin olive oil from Spain that is certified by "Certifood" (an agency in Spain that has connections to USDA Organic) as organic. I have the certificate from the Spanish agency, but do I need to officially file anything or do anything in the United States? Do I just put the USDA Organic symbol on the bottle? If it's not that simple, what do I have to do? Are there regulations with regards to the symbol, size, colors, etc.?

Hi there Can a retailer buy organic bulk product and re-pack in a container for retail use. to sell to their customers. Can the retailer use the label "organic" on the repack. (Just black font - not the seal) Lastly does the retailer and or their facility need to be to be certified organic in order to re-pack organic items like (nuts, beans, etc) and sell them in their retail environment

@Mark Basich - thank you for your comment. Packaging organic agricultural products and labeling them for retail distribution is a processing/handling function that requires certification under the USDA organic regulations. For information on how to become certified, please contact a National Organic Program (NOP) accredited certifying agent. Our List of NOP Accredited Certifying Agents is available online.

Hello. I have been eating La Finca oatmeal. This product does not have a USDA organic sticker. However, the package states the oatmeal is organic whole grain oats, made in Puerto Rico. If it is truly organic, why does it not have a USDA organic sticker?

@Gregory J. Rosen - thank you for your comment. "Made with Organic" is a labeling category for products certified to the USDA organic regulations. Access the Organic Labels Explained infographic to learn more about these categories.

The Organic Integrity Database is a searchable database that can be used to find information on certified organic operations and USDA-Accredited Certifying Agents. The database lists the company name for each certified operation and the products they are certified to produce or process. It is possible that a product’s brand name is different from the manufacturer’s or packer’s name. When searching the database, you may need to look for the manufacturer or packer shown on the back of the product label, rather than for the product’s brand name.