Organic shopping is not just a trend or a high class novelty. Organic is a health necessity we should all be supporting. Let's know your produce and food labels. The green and black USDA certified organic sticker means 95% of the food is organic. Now do not get fooled with organic or made with organic ingredients claims. These products only contain a portion of the ingredients that are organic and they are not certified(meaning no checks and balances). Non-GMO labels mean no ingredients have been genetically modified. Genetically modified food in my opinion, raises concern for the health of the consumer consuming it. Organic foods are always Non-GMO so the packaging does not need to also make the claim Non-GMO. Gluten Free claims are stamped on packages, but often times those packages have been known to contain gluten by independent checkers such as Gluten Free Watch Dog. A better bet if you are celiac and looking for the highest certification look for the celiac stamp. The numbers on produce actually mean something. If the number has five numbers and starts with a nine, it means it is organic. If the number has four numbers and begins with a three or four, the item is conventionally grown. If the number has five numbers and starts with an eight, it has been genetically modified. Lastly read the back of the label not for the calories we do not count those here, but rather for the ingredient list. If the list has a bunch of ingredients you can not read, dyes, or misinformation from the front label put it down. I once read a gluten free claimed item with the first ingredient being a form of wheat. Hard pass on that one! For an easier way to track the dangers in your foods with the scan of a barcode download some helpful apps such as: The Think Dirty app, EWG app, or my personal favorite Yuka app.
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