Toxins in Household Products - Why Organic and All Natural is Best
You're having a baby or just had one, or you have children, and you want the best for them. Being a parent, especially a new parent can be quite daunting you are now responsible for this person's emotional and physical development. So you want to buy the best products for them.
You go to your local supermarket and arm yourself with the necessities, nappies, wipes, soap, shampoo, lotion etc.etc. You pick up the natural or organic products, go home and attend to your newborn, rest assured that you've purchased the best products available.
BUT WAIT! Let's take a closer look at those products. What's it called? 'Blah Blah Botanics','Blah Blah Naturals', 'Blah Blah Essences', or even 'Blah Blah Organics', But it says 'with natural/organic ingredients'. Ok. It has pictures of fruit/vegetables on it. Mmmm. So now, let's take a closer look at these ingredients..
Sodium lauryl sulphate, sodium laureth sulphate, cocamidopropyl betaine, parfum, propylene glycol, sodium benzoate, tetrasodium EDTA, methylparaben, propylparaben
Where are these natural/organic ingredients? The natural ones are probably there, way down the list of ingredients, in latin. Or maybe they're synthetic. Even those which have clearly 'organic ingredients' appear way down in the list. But what about all those other chemicals?
One thing is for sure, you won't get all natural organic non-food products in the supermarket!
Let's talk about organic standards:
UK
The Soil Association organic symbol is the main certification mark, appearing on approximately 70% of organic food produced in the UK. According to the Soil Association, any organic product sold in the UK must by law display a certification symbol or number and when you see an organic symbol, you can be sure that the product complies with minimum government standards. Legally, a company does not need to show a certification symbol on pack but if the product has been produced and/or processed in the UK they must show the UK code. The Soil Association state that 'the organic sector is the most tightly defined and well regulated area of our daily diet, and deserves the trust consumers place in organic food. Having said this, attempts at fraud are possible in any industry, and we would urge consumers to look out for anything irregular'.
International
Demeter is the brand for products from Biodynamic Agriculture. Only strictly controlled and contractually bound partners are permitted to use the Brand. A comprehensive verification process insures strict compliance with the International Demeter Production and Processing Standards, as well as applicable organic regulations in the various countries; without a gap, through every step, from agricultural production to processing and final product packaging. Not only do they exclude the use of synthetic fertilisers and chemical plant protection agents in agricultural crop production, or artificial additives during processing, but also require very specific measures to strengthen the life processes in soil and foodstuffs.
USDA
In 1862, when President Abraham Lincoln founded the U.S. Department of Agriculture, he called it the "people's Department." The U.S. Department of Agriculture have a set of national standards that food labeled "organic" must meet, whether it is grown in the United States or imported from other countries. According to the USDA,
'When you buy food labeled "organic," you can be sure that it was produced using the highest organic production and handling standards in the world'. Before a product can be labeled "organic," a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. The USDA Organic seal also tells you that a product is at least 95 percent organic. People who sell or label a product "organic" when they know it does not meet USDA standards can be fined up to $10,000 for each violation.
So when buying organic, look for certification and in general, always read the label.
Dee Blackmore
Director, All Green and Toxin Free, supplier of certified organic and all natural beauty products and organic cotton baby gifts (www.allgreenorganics.com).
You go to your local supermarket and arm yourself with the necessities, nappies, wipes, soap, shampoo, lotion etc.etc. You pick up the natural or organic products, go home and attend to your newborn, rest assured that you've purchased the best products available.
BUT WAIT! Let's take a closer look at those products. What's it called? 'Blah Blah Botanics','Blah Blah Naturals', 'Blah Blah Essences', or even 'Blah Blah Organics', But it says 'with natural/organic ingredients'. Ok. It has pictures of fruit/vegetables on it. Mmmm. So now, let's take a closer look at these ingredients..
Sodium lauryl sulphate, sodium laureth sulphate, cocamidopropyl betaine, parfum, propylene glycol, sodium benzoate, tetrasodium EDTA, methylparaben, propylparaben
Where are these natural/organic ingredients? The natural ones are probably there, way down the list of ingredients, in latin. Or maybe they're synthetic. Even those which have clearly 'organic ingredients' appear way down in the list. But what about all those other chemicals?
One thing is for sure, you won't get all natural organic non-food products in the supermarket!
Let's talk about organic standards:
UK
The Soil Association organic symbol is the main certification mark, appearing on approximately 70% of organic food produced in the UK. According to the Soil Association, any organic product sold in the UK must by law display a certification symbol or number and when you see an organic symbol, you can be sure that the product complies with minimum government standards. Legally, a company does not need to show a certification symbol on pack but if the product has been produced and/or processed in the UK they must show the UK code. The Soil Association state that 'the organic sector is the most tightly defined and well regulated area of our daily diet, and deserves the trust consumers place in organic food. Having said this, attempts at fraud are possible in any industry, and we would urge consumers to look out for anything irregular'.
International
Demeter is the brand for products from Biodynamic Agriculture. Only strictly controlled and contractually bound partners are permitted to use the Brand. A comprehensive verification process insures strict compliance with the International Demeter Production and Processing Standards, as well as applicable organic regulations in the various countries; without a gap, through every step, from agricultural production to processing and final product packaging. Not only do they exclude the use of synthetic fertilisers and chemical plant protection agents in agricultural crop production, or artificial additives during processing, but also require very specific measures to strengthen the life processes in soil and foodstuffs.
USDA
In 1862, when President Abraham Lincoln founded the U.S. Department of Agriculture, he called it the "people's Department." The U.S. Department of Agriculture have a set of national standards that food labeled "organic" must meet, whether it is grown in the United States or imported from other countries. According to the USDA,
'When you buy food labeled "organic," you can be sure that it was produced using the highest organic production and handling standards in the world'. Before a product can be labeled "organic," a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. The USDA Organic seal also tells you that a product is at least 95 percent organic. People who sell or label a product "organic" when they know it does not meet USDA standards can be fined up to $10,000 for each violation.
So when buying organic, look for certification and in general, always read the label.
Dee Blackmore
Director, All Green and Toxin Free, supplier of certified organic and all natural beauty products and organic cotton baby gifts (www.allgreenorganics.com).
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