The United States Department of Agriculture has implemented a long-awaited standard for the production and distribution of organic foods, mirroring specific European legislation already introduced.
According to a report from the Georgia State University Signal, only foods that have followed the strict guidelines specified will be able to receive the "organic" seal. This seal certifies that these products were grown without the use of antibiotics, hormones, chemical fertilisers, herbicides, germicides, germ-killing radiation or genetic modification.
This new standard will help the US to catch up with the already strict food standards that Europe holds.
The USDA's Organic Rule applies to both agriculture and livestock and other areas of production. In order for a farm to produce organic foods, the land must be free of any harmful pesticides and fertilisers for a minimum of three years prior to the starting date of organic production.
An inspector must first come out and survey the land to make sure that everything is run according to par. Once this approval is given, the production can begin.
The Organic Rule does not allow for any genetically engineered or modified seeds or crops to be planted for agriculture production. It prohibits the use of sewer sludge as a fertiliser, which is a popular and inexpensive method that many farmers use in the growth of their crops. It also stipulates that animals must have been treated humanely.
The USDA's standard states that all livestock being raised for organic food purposes must only receive organic feed. They also are to be given access to the outdoors and constant fresh air. This is a vast difference to the conditions that many animals designed for food consumption face.
No use of antibiotics or growth hormones, such as steroids, is permitted to be given to the animals. All of these practices are designed to uphold the organic integrity and to give consumers reassurance in their organic food choices.
Once foods are produced using these new standards, they are given different grades of organic seals. In order for a package or product to receive a "100 per cent organic" seal it must only contain organic material, excluding the use of water and salt. These must display the name of the certifying agent and may choose to use the organic seal from the USDA.
By the time these organic foods hit the stores they have another standard to follow. Organic foods must now be shelved separately from other foods where they will not be touching. They have separate handlers and separate storage areas.
According to Andrew Hoppen from Market One, a leading carrier of organic foods, the new policy has had little effect on the store, "except for giving us more labour. There hasn't been any difference in our sales of organic foods."
But there has been an increase in the cost of organic foods by about 5 per cent to 10 per cent. So far, however, this has not deterred the customers who shop for organic foods from continuing to buy products.
Since organic foods began to receive increased popularity in the late 1980s, many people have jumped on the organic foods bandwagon. Over the years the number of increase in the stores and restaurants that carry organic foods has increased.
With the Whole Foods giant as a leading retailer of organic foods, many people have more access and knowledge of their organic options. More and more companies are trying to improve the health value of their foods to cater to a hopefully more health conscious America.
Both McDonalds and Frito Lay have developing healthier alternatives to their junk food recently.
The most recent breakthrough for chains promoting health to consumers is the addition of an organic cookie selection in the 7-Eleven convenient stores in southern California. Some 600 7-Eleven franchises in the area have begun selling organic cookies that are made with all organic ingredients and are free of cholesterol, hydrogenated oils and refined sugars.
Organic foods are a growing industry in America. While small companies have been producing organic foods for years, some larger companies want to jump on board to get their share of the $682.3 billion (€680.4bn) that Americans spend annually at the grocery store.
To the consumers of these organic foods there are several reasons to spend the extra bucks for these products.
Some choose organics because they believe them to be healthier; some consider the treatment of animals to be the primary reason to shop organic others just think that organic food tastes better.
Whatever the reason, it is clear that Americans are slowly becoming more health conscious in their food consumption; and where there is money to be made, large corporations will more than likely follow suit.