Definitions are important, I was reminded after receiving a letter from the Public Affairs Office of the United States Department of Agriculture in response to a recent column on food labeling. “There ...

If you buy something from a link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement. One morning in 2015, instead of heading into the fields, a group of about 50 farmers gathered in a parking ...

“Organic” might be the most abused word in the English language. Chemists, farmers, and marketers all use it—and none of them mean the same thing. The result is a label that can make Oreos, cigarettes ...

You would think seafood couldn’t get more organic than a thick filet of wild salmon fresh from the pristine waters of Nova Scotia’s Bay of Fundy. Well, you’d be wrong. And if you’re confused, then you ...

Words like “organic” and even “free-range” are more marketing language than anything else, but now the Department of Agriculture has changed that a bit. A new rule establishes stricter USDA criteria ...

The organic food industry is a booming business, with sales surging last year by 12.4% to $61.9 billion. However, most people don't know what "organic" really means. In 2014, brand consultancy BFG ...

Food or textiles certified ‘‘organic’’ by the U.S. Department of Agriculture must meet this definition: ‘‘Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the ...

Just over a month ago, the Department of Agriculture announced that it will allow American farmers to plant genetically engineered alfalfa, which is widely used as feed for dairy cows and horses.

"Natural" and "organic" are common on food labels, but the terms can be confusing. "Natural" labeling is simple, but vague. "Organic" labeling is more complicated. There are, however, specific ...

One in three consumers do not make a quality distinction between the terms “natural” and “organic” and/or government regulation for food products with such labels, according to results of a survey ...