| Label | What it means |
| USDA Organic | This label sets the clearest and most reliable standard for produce grown in environmentally safe and sound ways. It indicates that no synthetic pesticides or fertilizers were used; sewage sludge was not applied to the fields; and no genetic engineering or irradiation took place. Animals eat only 100% percent certified organic grass, corn, or grain, and sick animals given antibiotics are removed from the program. |
| 100% Organic | Made with all certified organic ingredients (excluding salt and water); displays USDA Organic label. |
| Organic | At least 95% organic ingredients; displays USDA Organic label. |
| Made with Organic | At least 70% organic ingredients; may not display USDA Organic label, but may list up to three organic ingredients on front of package. |
| Transitional Organic | In some states, farmers using verified organic methods may use this label until they’ve met the three-year requirement for USDA Organic labelling. By telling consumers their products are grown without synthetic pesticides, this label can be a lifesaver for farmers going through the expensive and complex conversion process. |
| Grass Fed |
The USDA defines this as the animal ate only 100% grass in its life, but third-party verification is not required. |
| Antibiotic Free/ Raised Without Antibiotics/ No Antibiotics Administered | While permitted as a label by USDA, it is considered meaningless by Consumers Union. It is verified only by companies themselves, rather than a third party. |
| Free Range or Free Roaming | There is no guarantee that the cows and chickens actually got outdoors. |
| Fresh | It could actually have been frozen. |
| USDA “Naturally Raised” | These products contain no hormones or artificial colourings, and only a few antibiotics are allowed, but there’s no third-party verification. |
| USDA Process Verified Certified Grass Fed | Animals’ access to pasture is required, but not guaranteed; they can be fed on hay in stalls and still qualify for the label. Antibiotics and growth hormones are permitted. |
| Certified Humane | Pasture time is not specified, although humane shelter (enough space to freely move about; no crates, cages, or being tied in stalls) and handling are. |
| Food Alliance Certified | Sets clear standards for lifetime access to pasture and humane treatment, including slaughtering. |
| Animal Welfare Approved |
This label guarantees that cows and chickens spend most of their lives in the fields and has a very specific humane handling and shelter standards. |
| Fair Trade Certified | Applies the strictest standards, ensuring that farmers receive fair prices and that workers receive fair wages and health protections during the cultivation of coffee, tea, sugar, fruits, etc. The use of hazardous pesticides, such as DDT, methyl parathion, and lindane, is not permitted. |
| Rainforest Alliance Certified | RA standards protect workers’ rights and welfare, ensuring that they receive at least the local minimum wage; forbid child labour; protect rainforest and require that at least 4o% of the plantation be grown in forest shade. Many pesticides, including those on the Pesticide Action Network’s “Dirty Dozen” list, are banned by RA. |
| Demeter Biodinamic | This holistic label indicates that the methods used to grow the produce fulfil all organic requirements and beyond, treat the Earth as a living organism, take care to protect wild flora and fauna, and strive for a light carbon footprint. Animals are guaranteed exercise and human treatment. |
| Integrated Pest Management (IPM) | Synthetic pesticides are used only as a last resort, and then sparingly, relying on nontoxic methods and beneficial insects that eat pests. |
| Salmon Safe | Indicates that the produce is either organic or IPM, and is grown using methods that protect western watersheds and rivers from runoff. |
| Bird-Friendly | The crops are cultivated in the rainforest, under the natural canopies, the way they originated. In shade growing, leaf litter on the forest floor provides natural fertilizer and protects against pests and disease. |
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