What is in this article?:
- Labels decoded
- Organic certifiers
- USDA Certified Organic
- Fair Trade Certified
- Whole Grain
- Certified Biodynamic
- Certified Humane Raised and Handled
- Rainforest Alliance Certified
- MSC Certified
- Certified Naturally Grown
- Certified Vegan
- Certified Gluten-Free
- NSF Made with Organic
- Natural Products Association Certified
How do you know which labels you can really trust? Start with these 12, which have a clear purpose and process behind the certifications.
Whole Grain
Who’s behind it:
Whole Grains Council (wholegrainscouncil.org), a nonprofit consumer advocacy group comprised of millers, manufacturers, scientists, and chefs.
What it means:
*The 100 percent stamp means that all grains used to make the product are “whole” (containing the germ, bran, and endosperm typically stripped during processing) and that one serving of the product contains 16 grams of whole grains.
*The basic stamp means one serving of the product contains at least 8 grams of whole grains and includes some refined grains.
*Grains certified “whole” include amaranth, barley, brown and colored rice, buckwheat, bulgur, corn and whole cornmeal, emmer, farro, kamut, millet, oatmeal and whole oats, popcorn, quinoa, sorghum, spelt, teff, triticale, whole rye, whole or cracked wheat, wheat berries, and wild rice.
Look for it on:
Grain-based products including bread, flour, cereal, cake, cookies, crackers, granola, soups, chips, energy bars, pretzels, popcorn, pasta, veggie burgers, and baking mixes.
