What Does Certified Organic Mean

Does the meat you eat have third party certification?

Consider the value of USDA organic as it offers independent third party inspection at the farm level and applies universally accepted standards of sustainable and regenerative farm practices as part of the inspection process.

The National Organic Program (NOP) develops, implements, and administers national production, handling, and labeling standards for organic agricultural products.

The NOP also accredits the certifying agents (foreign and domestic) who inspect organic production and handling operations to certify that they meet USDA standards. Production and handling standards address organic crop production, wild crop harvesting, organic livestock management, and processing and handling of organic agricultural products.

Organic crops are raised without using most conventional pesticides, petroleum-based fertilizers, or sewage sludge-based fertilizers. Animals raised on an organic operation must be fed organic feed and given access to the outdoors. They are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. The NOP regulations prohibit the use of genetic engineering, ionizing radiation, and sewage sludge in organic production and handling.

As a general rule, all natural (non-synthetic) substances are allowed in organic production and all synthetic substances are prohibited.