The Difference between Organic, Natural and Health foods

1. Organic Food 

Organic food is food grown through a process of farming without chemical pesticides and without artificial fertilizers. It is food grown in soil that is alive with billions of micro-organisms that convert the remains of vegetable life into tremendous amounts of minerals, vitamins and other nutrients to feed plant roots and ultimately ourselves. Organic food is not treated with preservatives, radiation, hormones, antibiotics or synthetic additives or grown from genetically modified seed. Every organic product must have a certifications to certified is organic. Organic food is food typically certified as organic by a third party certifying organization. Countries like Australia, France, Canada and the U.S.A. have a national standard for organics which are involved with the certifying of the food but not all countries have a national standard. Europe now has a Europe-wide organic standards system. 

So the next time you want to buy an organic product buy, try look for reputable company like Alce Nero (Italy) or Bragg (US) as they have certifications from worldwide.

2. Natural Food 

The term Natural food has very little meaning since it is typically unregulated in the market place. Natural is a title given to foods to suggest the food is closer to their natural state than another version of the same food. For example, a freshly picked fruit is called natural food even if it is sprayed with synthetic chemicals during the farming process since it comes off the tree and is unprocessed. Unlike canned apples which have been processed and typically have sugar added. The title natural food does not mean the food is organically grown. 

3. Health Food 

Health food is a term used for foods that, in some way, are believed to be healthier to eat that the common kind of food widely sold in supermarkets. For example, some people are allergic to foods treated with sulfur like dried apricots so un-sulfured dried apricots can be labeled health food whether they are organically grown or not. However, just like the term Natural food the term health food is not a regulated label.