Understanding product certifications and labeling can be very difficult for consumers. And unfortunately, words that you might think indicate a safe product, like “natural,” “pure,” or “organic” do not guarantee safety. Not to mention, the FDA and FTC have very limited roles in policing the safety and organic claims of personal care products. The only way to know for sure if a label to check each ingredient on a resource like Skin Deep or look to see if it’s certified by a third party.
It Says “Natural” So It Must Be Safe!
Some so-called “natural” personal care products can contain everything from petroleum byproducts to endocrine disruptors, and potentially cancer-causing synthetic ingredients that are toxic to organs, nerves and immune systems. There is currently no real or certifiable definition of “natural,” and no way to tell if a product is truly natural. Some certifiers have taken on the task of defining what natural really is, but there’s currently no way to tell with certainty how they are defining it by looking at the label. Even though a product being described as natural can actually be natural, be skeptical if that descriptor accompanies a lot of unnatural sounding ingredients. To be safe, look them up.
If a Label Says “Organic,” Then It Must Be Safe.
You would think that the word "organic" on a label should mean that the product is safe. But once again, it’s important for you to do your research. A product can list organic lavender, organic calendula and organic shea butter in their ingredients (for example), and still not be certified organic. It all depends on whether or not there’s an independent third-party certifier verifying those organic claims, the amount of organic ingredients, how the product was made, and what else is in it.
Understanding Organic Standards and Certifications in Natural and Organic Skincare
There are different organic standards for food and for personal care products (like lotions, soaps and shampoos), but organic label claims are not credible unless they adhere to one of the organic standards and state the name of their certifier on their product. The certifier administers, inspects and assures that the organic claims on the label are compliant with the strict rigors required to legitimately make these claims. So, if a product uses the word “organic” but there is no third-party certification, you have no guarantee that their claims meet the organic standards. Not surprisingly, it is extremely difficult to be certified organic. A company has to submit to annual inspections and an in-depth label claim assessment, and has to document the organic integrity of every ingredient from grower through manufacturing, until the product is sold. And the company itself must pay for this increased scrutiny. Some companies elect to go through this demanding process so that consumers can be assured that they are getting what they think they are getting. Let’s look at the different levels of “organic.”
100% ORGANIC (1)
The words “100% Organic” on the label are the legal organic claim. If the product being certified is one ingredient (like lettuce), it’s easy to know if it’s certified 100% organic. If the product is a blend of several ingredients (like an herbal tea), each of the ingredients is required to be 100% organic. If even one of the ingredients is certified only 99.99% organic, the 100% claim cannot be made.
Bottom Line: Look for the USDA seal on the front of the package, and the name of the independent third-party certifier on the back.
ORGANIC (1,3)
The word “Organic” on a product label, along with a trustworthy certifier, means that the ingredients are 95-99.9% organic. Any non-organic ingredient must not be available as organic, and must be on the USDA approved list, which does not allow GMO’s, prohibited substances, artificial fragrances, dyes, or other potentially harmful ingredients. The only claim word that can be on the label is the word “Organic.”
Bottom Line: Look for the USDA seal on the front of the package, and the name of the independent third-party certifier on the back.
MADE WITH ORGANIC USDA Certified (1,3)
“Made With Organic” means that 70-94.9% of the ingredients are certified organic. But, the USDA symbol is not allowed on the front panel of the product. The company logo may not include the word organic even though it is certified, but the front label claim can only say, “Made with organic” whatever the ingredient is. Confusing, huh? With the “Made With Organic” claim, at least 70% of the ingredients must be certified organic, and the remaining ingredients must be on the USDA approved list, which does not allow GMOs, prohibited substances, artificial fragrances, dyes, or other potentially harmful ingredients.
Bottom Line: Look for the seal and the name of the independent third-party certifier on the back of the package.
NFS/ANSI 305 CONTAINS ORGANIC INGREDIENTS (2)
The USDA list of approved raw materials does not allow even for some of the safe chemical processes necessary to make personal care products, so an equivalent standard for personal care products called the NSF/ANSI 305 Standard was created. NSF/ANSI 305 products must have 70% or more organic ingredients, and the remaining raw materials must be on the USDA approved list, which does not allow GMOs, prohibited substances, artificial fragrances, dyes, or other potentially harmful ingredients. NFS/ANSI 305 Bottom Line: Look for the NSF symbol on the front of the label and the independent third party certifier on the back.
NON-GMO PROJECT VERIFIED (4)
The Non-GMO Project is North America’s only independent verification for products made according to best practices for GMO avoidance, and the simplest way for consumers in North America to find clearly-labeled non-GMO food and products. Their process scrutinizes every product ingredient, from soil to seed, to plant. While the USDA NOP Organic certification does not allow for GMOs, they also do not test for or certify to that standard. And while the Non-GMO Project’s Product Verification Program is extra assurance for consumers who want to avoid GMOs, their process does not assure that a product is organic. Non-GMO Project Verified
Bottom Line: To avoid GMOs, look for the Non-GMO Project Verified seal on the front of the label and the independent third-party certifier on the back. This does not ensure that a product is organic.
We know how difficult it can be to discern which products have which organic certifications, which is why at Earth Mama, we ensure that our customers can always see all our ingredient lists, along with all the claims we are making.
