Organic Food Standards -
Soil Association and USDA Organic

Organic food standards are similar, yet different. All standards include an organic food definition and organic food labeling rules. The UK Soil Association and USDA organic standards are best-known.

The Soil Association logo is the most widely used logo in organic food standards certification, as well as for other organic products.

The organic food industry has been able to evolve with more credibility in large part due to the development of organic standards by the Soil Association, and other associations and organizations around the world (such as USDA organic certification).

The SA promotes and enforces standards based on EU and UK organic food regulations, as well as its own higher standards, developed in pursuit of the highest levels of organic integrity.

The SA, and other organic association and certification bodies, ensures that organic food labeling meets standards set by agreed-upon organic food definition.

(The full SA article from which the following extracts (italics) have been taken can be found here. (Acknowledgment to Marisa Vaughan as SA author)

Quality of living standards in terms of space and comfort for laying and meat birds are of paramount importance. The term 'free-range' is not truly met by minimum standards set by legislation. The SA redresses this:

Under UK law it is still possible for pigs to be fitted with nose-rings, have their teeth clipped and tail docked, as well as castrated. On top of this abuse, the term 'free-range' can mean access only to an outside run. SA standards work to eliminate these stress-producing practices:

Often, dairy cows are kept from performing their natural act of grazing. Instead the grass is brought to them in the confines of sheds or small paddocks. While supposedly meeting EU/UK law on minimum organic standards, it fails to meet the quality of those of the SA.

Another concern is the withdrawal period for cows that have been injected with antibiotics. The SA explains:

The controversial genetically modified (GM) crops or 'frankenfood' as some have dubbed it, come under SA scrutiny in their work of developing ever-higher standards for organically produced foods:

Intensive farming disturbs and destroys local environments and eco-systems. The SA sets conservation standards for farmers; meeting these standards promotes environmental/ecological health:

It is clear to many that the SA is the frontrunner in the campaign to enforce the highest organic standards. These standards naturally benefit environmental health as well as human health.

The SA logo has earned trust and credibility in the organic foods community; more than many others. To-date it has set the highest organic food regulations and only awards its organic food certification logo if those standards are met.

Additional Reading:

• Organic Food Information

• Organic Food History

• Organic Food Research

• Organic Food Standards - Minimum

• USDA Organic

• Whole Earth

• Organic Food News

• Return from Organic Food Standards - Soil Associaton to Organic Food for Everyone Home Page.