3 Most Important Labels for Buying Clean and Green for Your Family

Molly Holmes, LMFT Author

Dec 16, 2021 |

The Mindful Attachment Parenting approach teaches you to become a conscious consumer of natural products that are good for your family and the planet!

Mindfully living clean and green

Many people know that unhealed family trauma has a ripple effect across generations of a family system. But most do not know that exposure to environmental toxins has an epigenetic impact on the health of future generations to come. In fact, research shows that the environmental toxins your ancestors were exposed to are now in your genes. Because epigenetics may also be “remembered” through the phenomenon known as transgenerational inheritance. As a result, the pesticides your great-grandmother may have consumed could actually have influenced your gene expression. This has significant implications on your family regarding the importance of living clean and green. Not to mention what it means for the human species as a whole—and how the overall practice of loving kindness engenders a responsibility of living consciously and naturally in respect to the health of the entire ecosystem. One of the most impactful ways we can practice loving kindness in relationship to ourselves, our families, and the Earth—is to be conscious consumers of natural, organic, and eco-friendly products that are good for people and the planet.

Do you ever find yourself wandering through the grocery store aisles suffering from label confusion?

If you are like me, you have experienced this at some point while trying to forage for the healthiest food to feed your family. And it is essential to know what to look for if you are going to avoid being “greenwashed” into buying something that is really not that healthy after all. But what is most critical to consider when buying clean and green? As a mama bear for real food and natural living for my own family—I identified what I think are the three most important labels for naturally minded mamas. Because making it easier for you and your family to be healthy and eco-hip means everybody wins! That is why living clean and green is foundational to the Mindful Attachment Parenting approach. Okay, back to this business of ending label confusion. What do these labels mean about what you are actually getting? And is it really that important to buy organic? YES, yes, it is.

#1 most important label for buying clean and green is the USDA Certified Organic label

Organic food is the safest and most wholesome food you can feed your family. However, a small amount of drift can occur, especially at big corporate farms. And, when you think about it, at one time, all food was organic—and there was nowhere near the rate of obesity and disease we see today. In fact, organic food has many benefits for humanity and Mother Earth:

• Food that is organic is required to be at least 95% Non GMO. Because it contains fewer hormones, synthetic chemicals, and toxic herbicides/pesticides than conventional food, organic food is much cleaner and safer.
• Producing organic food is eco-friendly, because it helps conserve water, and fresh, clean water is one of our most precious resources.
• Organic agriculture reduces the overall ecological footprint of farming, making it the most sustainable way to grow food.
• And organic agriculture protects the integrity of the soil and prevents erosion. Erosion might not seem like a big deal, but it is because it affects the land, food supply, and, consequently, everyone.

But what does the USDA Certified Organic label actually guarantee?

A product has to have at least 95 percent organic ingredients to bear the seal. Unfortunately, there are a few loopholes that allow genetically modified ingredients to be in the other 5 percent. Like non-organic, GMO soy lecithin and cornstarch, which the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) allows. Their estimate is that there is a lack of availability of organic versions. In truth, your best bet is to look for product packages that have the USDA Certified Organic label AND the words “100% Organic,” because the FDA does regulate this term. It prohibits its use unless all ingredients are actually organic and Non-GMO. 

Fun fact: Produce PLU codes that start with the number 9 indicate that it is an organic product. And produce with a PLU code that starts with the number 3 or 4 signifies that it is a conventional product. 

#2 most important label for buying clean and green is the Non-GMO Project Verified seal.

If you can’t find an organic version of what you are looking for, the next priority is to make sure there are no GMOs in the product. But what are genetically modified organisms exactly? And why are they so bad? When an ingredient is genetically modified, one or more genes from the DNA of one organism is recombined with the DNA of another. By adding these new genes, scientists hope the plant will express the traits associated with the genes. For example, genetic engineers have transferred genes from a bacterium into the DNA of corn. This gene expresses a protein that kills insects, thus allowing the corn to produce its own pesticide.

But there is nothing natural about GMOs, and you remember that saying, “It’s not nice to mess with Mother Nature,”… right?

This is a very dangerous technology, because we don’t even know the full extent of how GMOs can harm our bodies and the ecosystem as a whole. Basically, genetically modifying food is irresponsible, and we will likely see more and more serious consequences from it. Just look at what is happening to the honey bees (Thank goodness for all the people who are working to save them!). In truth, we have an interdependent relationship with all of nature and need to be conscientious stewards of the Earth.

How does a product meet the requirements to carry a Non-GMO Project Verified seal?

A Non-GMO Project Verified product has to be made from Non-GMO seeds. However, the verified label guarantees only that a product does not contain ingredients with genetically modified organisms. A product must contain less than 0.9 percent GMOs to qualify. While that is extremely important, it’s not the whole story about how the ingredients are grown and manufactured. Ideally, you want to look for products that display both the USDA Certified Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified labels. If you do this, you can feel confident you are buying the safest, healthiest items available on the market. When I have a choice, I always buy food and products with both labels and ones that also include the words “100% Organic.”

#3 most important label for buying clean and green is the Fair Trade Certification

A company’s ethical and sustainability standards are also key to this lifestyle. TransFair USA, a nonprofit organization, is the only independent, third-party certifier of Fairtrade products in the U.S. Products must meet strict manufacturing guidelines for social, environmental, and economic conditions to qualify for certification. Fair Trade currently certifies coffee, tea, chocolate, vanilla, fresh fruit, rice, sugar, and flowers. The standards for Fair Trade certification ensure adherence to and oversight of the following:

• Fair price
• Fair labor conditions
• Direct trade
• Democratic and transparent organizations
• Community development
• Environmental sustainability

Watch out for greenwashing

Greenwashing occurs when a company tries to use natural or eco-friendly terms or traits to market and sell products—when in reality their products are not very clean and green. For example, the terms “Natural” and “100% Natural” are not defined or regulated by the FDA. Essentially, it may mean everything or nothing. Another example is the general term “Non-GMO.” These words do not guarantee anything unless the product has been verified by an independent party, like the Non-GMO Project. The recycling symbol (triangle with chasing arrows) can be misleading as well. Because it could mean that only as little as 10 percent of the product is recyclable or that it was made from recycled material. The term “Non-Toxic” also can be used without verification or oversight. Therefore, stick with companies that are independently owned and clean- and green-focused. And ALWAYS read the ingredients!

Vote with your dollars

Another tip for buying the purest products for your family is to buy from companies that are committed to helping you live a clean and green lifestyle. In this age of consumer activism, I encourage you to vote with your dollars. Support businesses that give your family the best natural and organic products while having a positive impact upon the world—that is loving kindness in action! I have helped families all over the world to live clean and green and more mindfully and I would be delighted to help you too. 

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Categories: : Holistic Psychology, Mindful Attachment Parenting, Natural Health & Living