When shopping for groceries, it is common to see the green-and-white USDA Organic seal or the word "Natural" printed prominently on the front of a package and assume the food inside is automatically lower in calories, lower in sugar, or higher in vitamins. In food law, however, agricultural production claims and nutritional composition are governed by separate rules.
The USDA Organic standards regulate how crops are grown, how livestock are raised, and how multi-ingredient foods are handled and verified by an accredited certifying agent. Meanwhile, the U.S. FDA policy on the word "natural" addresses only the absence of added artificial or synthetic ingredients, and the Nutrition Facts panel reports the actual macronutrients, micronutrients, sodium, and added sugars per serving.
This guide explains the exact regulatory difference between USDA Organic, "natural" claims, and the Nutrition Facts label so you can read both sides of a food package accurately.
What USDA Organic Certification Verifies (Production and Handling)
Administered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Organic Program, "organic" is a legally defined labeling term indicating that an agricultural product has been produced through approved methods and verified by a USDA-accredited certifying agent.
For crops, USDA organic standards require that land have had no prohibited substances applied for at least 3 years before harvest; that soil fertility be managed through tillage, crop rotation, and cover crops; that pests and weeds be controlled primarily through physical, mechanical, and biological practices (using only substances approved on the National List when necessary); and that genetic engineering, ionizing radiation, and sewage sludge are strictly prohibited. For livestock and dairy, standards require 100% organic feed, year-round outdoor access, grazing on pasture throughout the grazing season (at least 120 days and at least 30% dry matter intake for ruminants), and no withholding of veterinary treatment (though animals treated with prohibited substances cannot be sold as organic).
- 100 Percent Organic: Contains 100% certified organic ingredients (excluding salt and water); may display the USDA Organic seal.
- Organic: At least 95% of agricultural ingredients are certified organic, with remaining ingredients on the National List; may display the USDA Organic seal.
- Made with Organic [Specified Ingredients]: Contains at least 70% certified organic ingredients; may list up to three organic ingredients or food groups on the front panel but cannot use the USDA Organic seal.
How the FDA Views the Term "Natural" on Food Labels
Unlike "organic," the U.S. FDA has not established a formal regulatory definition through rulemaking for the term "natural" on human food labels. Instead, the FDA maintains a longstanding policy considering "natural" to mean that nothing artificial or synthetic (including all color additives regardless of source) has been included in, or added to, a food that would not normally be expected to be in that food.
Crucially, as the FDA explicitly notes, this policy was never intended to address agricultural production methods (such as whether synthetic pesticides were used in the field), nor does it address food processing or manufacturing methods (such as thermal processing, pasteurization, or irradiation), nor does it imply any nutritional or health benefit.
- "Natural" Does Not Mean Certified Organic: A food labeled "natural" does not undergo third-party USDA organic farm or handling certification.
- Color Additives Excluded: Any added color additive—even from a botanical or mineral source—precludes calling a food "natural" under FDA policy.
- No Nutritional Threshold: A beverage or snack labeled "all natural" can still be high in calories, sodium, or added sugars.
Sources & Classical References
- USDA Agricultural Marketing Service — Organic Standards — Official USDA reference for crop, livestock, pasture, and multi-ingredient handling standards under the National Organic Program.
- U.S. FDA — Use of the Term Natural on Food Labeling — Official FDA policy explaining what "natural" covers (no added artificial/synthetic ingredients or colors) and what it does not cover (pesticides, processing, or nutrition).
- U.S. FDA — How to Understand and Use the Nutrition Facts Label — Guide to checking macronutrients, micronutrients, and added sugars on packaged foods.
