“Natural” and “organic” are words most commonly thrown around when dealing with food and cosmetics. So which one is better? Marketing studies have shown that consumers most often prefer natural products over the organic ones. As similar as they may seem, the word “organic” seems to have a negative connotation in the mind of the consumer. Organic items, whether you rub it in your skin or put it in your body, are thought to be more expensive than their natural counterparts. This being said, do you really know what the difference between these two terms are?
In order to pick the winner of this war, you must first know what each word implies. For organic products, the USDA National Organic Program has different standards than the commonly seen NSF organic certification sticker. The smallest label that USDA provides is must be at least 70 percent organic, and may not include a USDA Organic seal. In order for a product to include have direct organic claim, the product must be 95 percent organically produced, and the rest ingredients must be found on an approved list. The NSF states that a product must contain 70 percent organically produced ingredients, however, some the extra ingredients on their approved items list may be found on USDA’s banned ingredients list. When it comes down to it, organic just means that the product, or however much of the product, was produced in a chemical-free environment.
Now the word “natural” is more of a loose term. As opposed to organic, natural products are not regulated. There is no government institution or program to regulate the use of this phrase, so consumers need to just use their best judgment. The word natural is up to interpretation. “Natural” usually does not usually define how the product was raised or grown, but the products and ingredients of the final product.
It is essentially up to you, the consumer, to determine which is better, natural or organic. You may not even prefer either. The best thing to do is flip the product over and read the ingredients and fine print. It’s always best to know what you’re using.
Tags: cosmetics, Natural Treatments & Products, Organic, USDA
