The basic difference between organic and Natural Claims is that "Organic" adheres to strict standards set by an independent governing body and "Natural" does not.

The 'Organic' Claim

The ‘Organic’ claim is regulated in Canada. All products that bear the ‘Organic’ label must be certified to the organic standard. This means that the farms and factories are inspected and actually meet the regulation. * “The Canadian Organic Regulation mandates that crops are grown with methods that restore and sustain the environment; provide soil fertility using biological means, not synthetic fertilizers; and manage pests with biological, mechanical and cultural techniques, not toxic chemicals.”

Animals must be provided with healthy, reduced stress living conditions by having space appropriate to their behavioral requirements and organic feed. Hormones and GMO products are forbidden. Antibiotics are administered when required but are not to be used as ‘organic’.

To be labeled ‘organic’ food must have been produced without the use of synthetics fertilizers and pesticides, antibiotics, irradiation, genetic engineering or hormones.

*Quotes used with permission. Brenda Frick ‘The Natural Illusion’ Organic Alberta, issue 04, volume 2, Winter 2012.

The ‘Natural’ Claim

In Canada the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has guidelines for natural food. It is all about post-harvest handling. Natural Food should not contain food additives. Nothing may be removed except water and they are to be processed minimally, or left unprocessed. Natural should contain only natural ingredients. It does not really matter what happens before harvest, before slaughter or being made into finished products, such as bread or cheese and yoghurt which are made from, or contain a large part of a raw product. When the main ingredients in bread or cheese are utilized into a finished product “naturally” the source of the product is not considered. Natural products are sourced from “Natural” farms. The term “natural” when used in this sense does not indicate pesticide, synthetic fertilizers, hormones, GMO, or antibiotics are not in use on the farms. It just means that the plant or animal grows in its natural state; but is being grown using conventional methods.

The CFIA suggests that the word “Natural” is often misused on labels and advertisements. There is no regulation to prevent this. Manufacturers and producers may use these terms without restrictions.

Natural is not a legally standardized term. Hence there are no guarantees that products labelled are pesticide, preservatives, GMO, or hormone free. Be aware of these products although some may be better than their “non-natural” counterparts, they are not meeting the same criteria as organic products.

Eg. A producer who says his product is natural can be hormone and antibiotic free. The animals are fed a conventional ration which is all or a large part of their feed intake. There is no measurement on the amount of residues contained in their feed. If the animal is eating this then there will be a certain amount of residues in the meat and or milk. Also the impact on the environment of farming practises used in conventional methods needs consideration.

* “If we want to be sure we are getting the qualities of natural grown, handled, processed in ways that value nature and respect the consumer-we need to pass over the natural product and reach for the organic one.”

*Quotes used with permission. Brenda Frick ‘The Natural Illusion’ Organic Alberta, issue 04, volume 2, Winter 2012.