What's Organic?

If you prefer to buy natural body-care products in the United States, be aware there is no definitive way to identify the "organic" nature of products that do not carry the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) seal.

Instead, shoppers find an assortment of confusing labels on organic body-care products, which can mean any of the following definitions.

USDA Organic. This official seal guarantees that the ingredients in a product are free of antibiotics, synthetic pesticides and genetically modified organisms. Products containing the USDA seal contain at least 70% organic ingredients.

Natural. This is a "feel-good" word, but there is no firm definition for this category. However, the industry's consensus is that "natural" products must contain no artificial preservatives, sweeteners or coloring, chemical additives or hydrogenated oils.

Certified Organic Ingredients. This indicates that ingredients are certified by the USDA as organic. However, the entire product is not "organic" because it may contain or use nonorganic materials and processes.