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Whose Label is it Anyway?

A guide to food packaging words and logos

LAmag.com, November 23, 2009

Sustainable

Cattle producers are beginning to recognize that sustainable grazing by pasture- or grass-fed livestock can lower production costs, reduce animal stress, and boost the cattle's immune system, according to ATTRA-National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service.
USDA Certified Organic

You can find this label on fruits, vegetables, meat, and poultry. Most pesticides, fertilizers, antibiotics, genetic engineering, and irradiation are prohibited in organic production. In addition, organic animals must eat 100 percent organic feed that does not contain any animal byproducts or growth hormones.
Kosher

There are many ways to spell Hanukkah and more than 1,000 ways to label a product as kosher. Those little o's, u's, and k's inside a circle symbolize food that's been prepared in accordance with Jewish dietary laws. Kosher meat is slaughtered to minimize pain inflicted on the cattle and carefully inspected for irregularities or growths on their internal organs, which could render the animal nonkosher.
Cage Free vs Free Range

Ah, the great egg debate. A cage-free egg simply means that the hens are not kept in cages, though there are no regulations to govern care beyond that. Free-range chickens are supposed to have "access to the outdoors." However, the USDA considers five minutes of daily open-air access enough to earn the "free range" label.
Fresh Poultry

Are you tired of buying chicken breasts as solid as blocks of ice? Then buy the poultry labeled "fresh." This USDA-published label means whole poultry and cuts have never been exposed to temperatures below 26°F.
Grass-Fed

Cattle are either raised on diets primarily composed of pasture (grass) or a diet of grain, soy, and other supplements. If they are raised on a mostly forage diet, they are termed grass fed or pasture raised. Some farmers claim that feeding livestock grass is a much healthier, more natural approach. You can often find this label on meat and dairy products.
American Heart Association's Heart-Check Symbol

With shopping aisles full of chips, candy, and soda, it can be hard to make heart-healthy choices. That's why the American Heart Association created the heart-check mark. When you see this red symbol on food packaging, you'll know the food has met the certification criteria for saturated fat and cholesterol, according to the American Heart Association.
Certified Humane

It's the golden rule. The goal of this program is to improve the lives of farm animals by educating consumers on the importance of compassionate farm animal practices. The animals from these facilities have "ample space, shelter and gentle handling to limit stress," according to the Certified Humane Raised and Handled program. They also have fresh water and a healthy diet without added antibiotics or hormones.
Predator Friendly

Predator-friendly beef? "What sounds like a contradiction in terms is, in fact, a label that appears on beef products from ranches whose proprietors believe in sharing their land with all indigenous wildlife, including coyotes, mountain lions and wolves," according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. These ranchers do not use poisons, guns, or traps to eliminate species that threaten livestock.
USDA Prime

This is the top grade of beef available on the market. Prime beef is guaranteed to be tasty, juicy, and tender. It has the most amount of marbling because it is usually produced from young, well-fed cattle, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
USDA Choice

Slightly coarser in texture, this is the second highest grade of beef on the scale. It's perfect for a backyard barbecue: Choice is usually less expensive but still provides quality, flavorful results.
USDA Select

This beef is much leaner than Prime or Choice, so it does not have the same flavor or texture. Select has little marbling, which makes it less juicy and tender, but if you marinate it before cooking, you will still have an enjoyable piece of meat. It's cheaper, too.
Biodynamic

Biodynamic farming and gardening doesn't just avoid chemicals, it self-nourishes. This method of organic farming balances the interrelationship of the soil, plants, and animals. The Demeter USA Association, a national, independent, nonprofit corporation, certifies farms-and even wineries-as biodynamic.