Organic

What does the word term organic mean? When I think of the word, "organic", I think of the USDA label on organic produce or other food products.

According to the USDA, “organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled ‘organic,’ a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too.”

Could these principles apply to body care products?

While the National Organic Program of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) was originally intended to govern only food, the USDA had agreed recently to allow other product categories, such as personal care products, to receive the certification. The problem is that the department does not appear to enforce the organic standards in the personal care products industry.

More consumers are becoming aware of the effects that personal body care products have on their bodies and on the environment, and this has lead to a perceptible change in buying habits of these conscientious consumers. Unfortunately, however, many companies are keen to cash in on this trend and try to portray their products as "organic" and with the lack of enforcement, then there is no incentive for manufacturers or sellers to be truthful.

The USDA has strict labeling instructions for the use of the word "organic."

Organic Ingredients as a Percentage	Label
100% organic ingredients	100% Organic
95 – 100% organic ingredients	Organic [Product]
70 – 95% organic ingredients	Made with Organic [List Organic Ingredients]
Less than 70% organic ingredients	May list organic ingredients on the side panel of a package but may not make any organic claims on the front of the package

Just like reading the list of ingredient in any food product, I would read the list of ingredients in any body care products.

It's strange, but even with product lines that are touted as "organic", you still see the names of synthetic chemicals.

There seems to be a trend in body care products industry in which the word "organic" or "organics" is included in the company's name, but the products themselves are not organic. In the organic food world, the USDA does not permit a company to use the word organic in its name unless a majority of the products that it produces are composed of organic ingredients. In the personal care products industry, apparently a different standard applies.

For instance, with the Avalon Organics Baby Shampoo and Body Wash, I would assume that in an organic line, that most of the ingredients would be "organic" even if it doesn't specifically say that it is an "organic" shampoo. But, you'll see synthetic surfactants such as cocamidopropyl betaine, sodium cocoyl glutamate, sodium cocyl isethionate and decyl glucoside, which are sudsing agents and cleaners. It's interesting that after each of the names, they include a parentheses stating that they are coconut or corn cleansers to imply that since they are derived from something recognizable, that somehow it is more "natural." Interestingly, the list also includes phenoxyethanol (natural preservative) and ethylhexylglycerin (glycerin conditioner and preservative). It's hard to argue that these synthetic chemicals are natural and could not be used in food products that are certified organic. A quick search on phenoxyethanol revealed that it could have neurotoxic effects, among other things. The list also includes some organic materials, such as organic calendula and chamomile flower extracts. Is this their only link to something "organic"? It's sad, to say the least.