Organic vs. All-Natural: What’s the difference?

Hi Tracy – My eyes have really been opened to the danger of typical grocery store meat. Wow! Scary stuff. So now I’m reading labels a lot and am curious about the difference between meats labeled “all natural” vs. “organic”. Is that the same thing? I guess I know organic is best. But is all-natural almost as good? Is it really worth the price difference?

Thanks,

Label Lingo or Lie 

Great question! In a word, the answer is No. They are not the same – not even close. Unfortunately, the rules of use for the phrase “all-natural” in regard to food in the US are very lax. In this case, natural does not necessarily mean clean or safe. It simply means that nothing synthetic has been used in the food (that is, nothing not occurring in nature). It’s important to realize that harmful substances allowed in meat like ammonia, arsenic, some types of steroids, GMO feed, and animal-derived growth hormones are actually classified as “natural”. Some manufacturers choose to use them and others don’t. So we don’t know what we’re getting. Organic is the only standard that is actively monitored and audited in the US. And it’s the only guarantee that your meat has not received any of these ingredients before hitting the grocery store case. Beyond organic, grass-fed animal products also have a healthier nutrient content (e.g. organic grass-fed butter is loaded with artery-protective Vitamin K2; organic conventional butter (grain-fed) is typically not). I recommend spending the extra money where you can to ensure quality in food for your long-term health. When organic products go on sale, stock up!