This September is Organic Awareness Month, and you already know that we absolutely LOVE our organic products at WholeLife! But… after delving deeper into Organic Awareness Month, the Australian Organic market has a long way to go to catch up to the rest of the world! We break down what it is that you need to look for when shopping organic.
Australia currently has no mandatory domestic regulation around the term ‘organic’ on product labels. This means that products with as little as 2% organic ingredients can claim to be ‘organic’. Products labelled organic are becoming more sought after as shoppers are becoming increasingly aware of health concerns surrounding additives and preservatives, however, these organic products usually come at a premium price point.
There are many ways a product can claim to be organic; you may have noticed that some products claim “100% organic”, whereas others claim, “made using organic ingredients”. For example, a ‘Healthy, Organic Muesli’ may claim to be “made using organic ingredients” as the products includes organic blueberries. However, you may also find non-organic ingredients such as artificial flavours, additives, and preservatives within this ingredient list. Confused? Let us break down what you should really be looking for when shopping organic.
“Organic” vs “Certified Organic”
Consumers cannot be guaranteed that a product is organic unless it displays an organic certification mark such as the Australian Certified Organic logo, shown below. There is a stark difference between products that are labelled ‘organic’ and ‘Australian Certified Organic (ACO)’. Products that are ACO approved are free from human-made fertilisers (replaced with fertilisers are made from naturally derived ingredients), pesticides, growth regulators and GMO’s. To be labelled “certified organic”, companies must go through a process of certification by a third-party certification company to certify the integrity of the product. The assessments ensure that the producer, manufacturer, and final product complies with relevant standards.
Groups are pushing for better practices when it comes to organic certification and labelling in Australia by petitioning for one unified national standard.
However, just because there is no mandatory regulation for organic labelling, that does not mean that you cannot trust your favourite organic products and brands. Many organic businesses choose to undergo the process to be certified organic to promote consumer confidence, however this can be a costly process for smaller businesses who may not have the funds available.
Due to the stringent regulations that are in place to ensure a truly organic product for consumers as well as the lengthy certification process involved, an organic product is likely to hit the shelves at a higher price point than your regular, run of the mill product. Choosing to buy organic is an invested in your family’s health, the environment’s health and supports those businesses who are here to make a difference.
Read more about the Australian Certified Organic Standard here.
Our Tips for Buying Organic
• Read labels carefully to see which and how many of the ingredients are organic.
• Choose the trusted ‘Certified Organic’ over ‘Organic’ labels.
• Stay clear from products with additives, preservatives, gums, and numbers in the ingredients list.
• Choose fresh produce that is Certified Organic to avoid pesticides and chemicals.
Here are a few of our favourite Certified Organic products at WholeLife.
• FORAGED FOR YOU The Mothers Blend 220g
• NOOSA BASICS Organic Roll On Deodorant Charcoal & Eucalyptus 50ml
• GLORIOUSLY FREE Organic Oats 500g
• OZGANICS Certified Organic Bolognese Pasta Sauce 500g
