Have you ever wondered what the definition of the term "natural" is in regards to food labeling? When you are choosing between several different brands of a food at the grocery store, are you more likely to purchase one that is labeled as "all natural"?
The term "natural" was identified by the Mintel Global New Products Database as the most common claim on food and beverage labels in 2008. However, the term is not officially defined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) or by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In 1993 the FDA issued a policy stating that it "has not objected to the use of the term on food labels provided it is used in a manner that is truthful and not misleading and the product does not contain added color, artificial flavors or synthetic substances".
So this must mean that the food is in its natural form right? Not necessarily! A food that is labeled as natural could be processed, have added salt or other ingredients that not originally part of the food itself. For example, based on this guideline a food cannot have any added artificial ingredients, but it can have added natural ingredients. Some foods have dyes or flavorings that are considered "natural" because they come from other plant or animal sources, such as insects!
The label "natural" can be very misleading, so don't necessarily assume that just because something is labeled as "natural" that it is healthy! The best foods for you are foods that are not processed or altered such as fresh produce and grains, whole meats, and organic dairy!
The USDA is currently working to define the term natural in regards to food labeling.
Cheers,
Brittney
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