What Does Organic Mean?

What Does Organic Mean?

What Does Organic Mean?
Organic food and organic produce are grown and made in a way that considers the health of the soil, plants, animals and the wider environment. Organic farming and organic agriculture in Australia focus on farming practices that support healthy soil and minimise the use of synthetic inputs. Certified organic standards do not allow GMOs, irradiation or prohibited synthetic pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers. These standards help protect the integrity of organic foods and the way they are grown, processed and handled.

What’s the Difference Between Organic and Certified Organic?
In Australia, at present, a product can be described as “organic” without being independently certified, although the claim must still be truthful and not misleading.
Certified organic goes a step further. It means an independent certifier has checked that the product, ingredients and handling processes meet a recognised organic standard. This includes reviewing suppliers, records and facilities through ongoing audits as part of the organic certification process.

What Does This Mean at Honest to Goodness?
Honest to Goodness is ACO certified organic by ACO Certification Ltd. Our warehouse, supply chain, production and distribution facilities are regularly audited to make sure certified organic products are received, stored, handled and packed correctly. These processes help protect the integrity of our organic food and produce and prevent certified organic products from being mixed with non-organic products. Our certification also means we follow the relevant requirements for handling and storing certified organic products throughout our facilities.

What Should I Look for When Shopping for Organic Food?
When shopping for organic food in Australia, look for a recognised certification logo, such as the ACO Bud logo, a “certified organic” statement and certification details on the packaging.






It’s also worth checking the ingredient list to see which ingredients are organic. Remember that “natural” and “certified organic” are not the same. Certified organic products have been independently verified against a recognised organic standard.

Why Does Australia Need a National Organic Standard?
Certification is not currently compulsory for every product sold as organic in Australia. The organic industry continues to support consistent national regulation to give shoppers greater confidence and create clearer requirements for businesses making organic claims.Clear and consistent organic standards help consumers understand what organic claims mean and support greater transparency across the organic farming and food industry in Australia.