Holistic Corner

What does certified organic mean? Your guide to verifying organic products

When you see the word "organic" on a product package, it may seem clear, but the phrase "certified organic" has a more specific meaning: it refers to a product or production process that has met the requirements of a specific organic system, and whose compliance with these requirements has been verified under a recognized accreditation and inspection system

Organic systems differ from one market to another, so looking at the word "organic" or the logo alone is not enough; it is useful to know the system the product follows and the data that allow verification of the body responsible for it

In this article, we explain what certified organic means, what is meant by the organic certificate, how you can verify certification when reading the package, and we introduce the most prominent certification systems you may see on products

What are organic products?

Organic products are agricultural or food products that are subject to specific standards set by the organic system approved in the market where the product is sold, and these systems define a set of conditions that must be met for the product to acquire the organic status

The conditions and requirements that determine the organic status differ according to the system or standard approved in the market where the product is offered, which we will cover in detail in the following sections

What does certified organic mean?

When a product is described as certified organic, this means that the producing entity has been subject to the requirements of a specific organic system, and its commitment to these requirements has been verified through an accreditation or inspection body recognized within that system

In the USDA system, for example, the certification process verifies that the farm or processing facility complies with the organic regulations of the United States Department of Agriculture, and after obtaining the certificate, the certified entity may market its products and use the term Organic in accordance with the requirements of the system

This shows the importance of the word "certified"; it links the organic claim to an official verification process, rather than being merely a description chosen by the company in marketing the product

The United States Department of Agriculture also explains that its organic standards require verification of compliance with the requirements by a recognized accreditation body before the description " USDA Organic" may be used

The same principle applies in the European Union, where European rules regulate organic production according to specific standards and controls

What is the difference between an organic product and a certified organic product?

An organic product is one that is produced according to specific standards for organic farming and production, while a certified organic product is a product whose compliance with these standards has been verified by a recognized accreditation body, and the certificate gives the consumer a reliable means of confirming that the product meets the requirements of the certified organic system

How is organic certification carried out?

The accreditation process usually includes reviewing the information and documents related to the applicant, and evaluating practices and records, and it may include an on-site inspection to verify the extent of compliance with the standards

In the USDA system, the process includes reviewing the organic system plan and related documents, then conducting an on-site inspection visit to verify practices and records, before reviewing the inspection results and deciding to grant the certificate when the requirements are met

Ecocert explains, in its accreditation services under the USDA standard, that the accreditation process includes reviewing documents and the production or processing plan and on-site inspection, along with reviewing the results before issuing the certificate, and that maintaining accreditation requires periodic follow-up and renewal procedures

Thus, the organic certificate is not merely a trademark, but the result of a verification process linked to a specific standard and to a body responsible for assessing the extent of compliance with it

How do I know that a product is certified organic?

After understanding the meaning of accreditation, comes the practical side: how can you verify it when buying the product?

First, start by reading the information on the package or wrapper, and look for the organic logo linked to the system the product follows, the name of the inspection or accreditation body, and the certificate number or any other data that allows verification if available

Logo and accreditation data:

You may find on the package a logo indicating the organic system under which the product was accredited, such as the European Union organic logo or the USDA Organic seal in the American system

However, the logo alone is not the only information worth attention; it is also useful to look for the name of the accreditation or inspection body, the certificate number, or any other related data, if available

This information helps you know the system on which the accreditation is based and the body responsible for it, while the way it is presented differs from one system to another

Reading the ingredients:

If the product contains more than one ingredient, it is important to read the ingredients list to know what the product contains and how it was classified under the organic system; in the USDA system, there are specific rules for how organic ingredients are described on the package, and the classification of the product depends on the percentage of organic agricultural ingredients it contains

Origin and production data:

It is also useful to review the information that shows the source of the product and the body responsible for its production, such as the country of origin, the place of production, and the production and expiry dates; the package may also include the data of the accredited body and the certificate number, which helps identify the product and trace the information related to it

What is the difference between an organic product and a non-organic product?

To understand the difference between organic and non-organic products, it is best to focus on the standards that govern the production method of each, rather than automatically linking the organic status to specific health or nutritional properties

Organic products

Organic products are subject to specific standards that regulate how they are produced and processed, and define the requirements that must be met to acquire the organic status, including the materials and inputs permitted for use and the procedures for handling the product

In the USDA system, these requirements vary according to the production stage: crop standards include requirements for soil management and pest control, and standards for ingredients and permitted materials, in addition to controls that prevent contamination or mixing with non-permitted materials

In the European Union, the rules include different stages of the organic product chain, with determination of the materials and inputs that may be used according to the approved system

Non-organic products

Conventional products are not subject to the same organic standards system, but this does not automatically mean that they are unsafe, and obtaining an organic certificate for a product does not make the certificate alone a comprehensive judgment on all its nutritional or health properties

Therefore, the basic difference between organic and non-organic products here relates to the system and standards that govern the production method, the materials and inputs, the controls, and labeling

The most famous organic product certificates

You may see on organic product packages various logos or names, such as USDA Organic, the European Union organic logo, the Turkish organic certificate, or Ecocert; this is due to the multiplicity of organic systems and the differing requirements according to the market and the program the product follows

USDA Organic certificate

USDA Organic is the organic farming system of the United States Department of Agriculture, and it sets specific rules for producing and processing organic products; for the product to obtain accreditation, the producing or processing entity must meet the requirements of the system and be subject to the required verification and accreditation procedures

It is also important to know that the use of the word Organic in this system is subject to specific categories and requirements; a product bearing the Organic classification must contain at least 95% certified organic agricultural ingredients, with other categories for products containing different percentages of organic ingredients

The Turkish organic certificate

In Turkey, organic products are subject to a regulatory system supervised by the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and inspections and certificate issuance are carried out through authorized bodies

Organic product data includes information that helps identify the body that carried out the control and issued the certificate, such as the name of the body, its code, and the certificate number, in addition to other information about the product, the facility and the production

European Union organic agriculture certificate

The European Union has a special system for organic production and control of organic products; if you see the European organic logo on a food product, this means that the product has met the requirements necessary to use this logo

For processed organic foods, the system requires that at least 95% of the agricultural ingredients be organic in order to use the European logo, with specific conditions for the remaining ingredients

Ecocert certificate

You may also see the name Ecocert on some organic products; Ecocert is a body specialized in inspection and certificate issuance according to different standards and programs, so its name alone does not indicate a single organic standard that applies to all products

For example, Ecocert provides accreditation services according to European organic farming requirements, and the accreditation process includes reviewing information and documents and inspection to verify compliance with the relevant standard

Does the organic certificate mean that the food is safe?

Some may ask: if the product holds an organic certificate, does this mean that all aspects of food safety have been covered by the same certificate?

Here it is important to distinguish between organic accreditation and food safety systems, because each focuses on a different aspect

Organic accreditation relates to the requirements of the organic system, such as the rules of production and farming, the materials permitted, and the way the product is handled according to the approved standard; while food safety systems focus on identifying the hazards that may affect food safety during the stages of handling it

In simpler terms, organic accreditation shows the product's commitment to the requirements of the organic system, while systems such as HACCP and ISO22000 help manage food safety risks, and therefore these systems can be integrated within a broader framework of quality and safety

How does Holistic Corner apply quality and food safety standards?

At Holistic Corner, the quality system does not rely on a single organic certificate, but includes a set of certificates and accreditations that cover different aspects, starting with organic product accreditation, passing through facility oversight, and reaching food safety management systems

Organic product certificates at Holistic Corner?

The Holistic Corner system includes a number of certificates related to organic production, including:

These certificates relate to the organic aspect of our products, that is, to the requirements that govern their production and handling according to the approved system

Quality management and food safety systems

The quality system at Holistic Corner also includes systems and standards that focus on food safety and process management, including:

Laboratory tests

The Holistic Corner system does not stop at certificates and accreditations, as the company states that it conducts additional internal and external tests on products, including tests for Sudan dyes, Salmonella and foodborne bacteria, heavy metals, aflatoxins and mold toxins, pesticide residues, and some preservatives such as sulfur dioxide; the company also states that the laboratory test results are available on product pages under the laboratory tests section

Licenses and official oversight

In addition to organic certificates, Holistic Corner displays licenses and accreditations linked to Turkish government bodies, including the license of the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, related to facility registration and oversight of production, storage and sales activities, in addition to the accreditation of the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Health for the trade of herbs and medicinal plants

Thus, the Holistic Corner quality system integrates organic accreditation, official oversight, food safety systems, and laboratory tests, so that the organic certificate is not the only aspect considered when evaluating the quality and safety of products

To learn about the certificates and accreditations that Holistic Corner displays, you can review our international certificates and accreditations

Frequently asked questions:

Are organic products healthy?

Yes, choosing organic products represents a healthier option of higher quality and safety; organic farming preserves soil rich in natural minerals and nutrients without exhausting it with chemicals, which gives crops a natural taste and a higher proportion of antioxidants and free nutritional elements; moreover, protecting the body from pesticide residues and genetically modified materials is in itself the basic principle of sustainable health and clean nutrition

Is an organic product completely free of pesticides?

Global organic standards completely prohibit the use of synthetic chemical pesticides and fertilizers during cultivation, and allow only some natural nutrients that are permitted when absolutely necessary
As for Holistic Corner, we do not rely only on the existence of the organic certificate for the farm, but go a step further by conducting independent laboratory tests on every batch (Batch-testing) to fully confirm that the products are free of any chemical residues, contaminants or pesticides, to ensure the highest levels of purity and safety for our customers

What is the difference between organic and non-organic products?

The basic difference lies in the purity of the production method and the safety of the inputs; organic products are grown and produced according to strict standards that prohibit synthetic chemical pesticides, fertilizers and genetic modification, while conventional (non-organic) farming relies on these chemical compounds to increase the quantity of the crop at the expense of natural purity

Is Ecocert the same as USDA Organic?

No, the difference lies in that Ecocert is an independent accredited certifying and testing body (Certifying Agent) that carries out inspection and auditing of farms and facilities, while systems such as (USDA Organic - the European accreditation - the Turkish accreditation) are official government regulations and standards that define the conditions of organic production
Accordingly, bodies such as Ecocert inspect products and facilities to grant certificates and accreditations that comply with these different systems and international standards