Organic

Products raised or produced in accordance within the National Organic Standard of Canada are considered organic. No synthetic fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides are used to grow crops, and livestock are raised without antibiotics or synthetic hormones or growth enhancers. Processors do not add synthetic colours or flavours to the products they package and produce. Organic production promotes the use of sustainable systems, respecting ecological balance.

 

Certified Organic

All organic food must be certified. The producer or processor is responsible for maintaining the certification on a prescribed schedule and once certified are permitted to use the certifier’s logo and certification number on their products.
A certificate is produced by an approved certification body that a producer or processor is in compliance with the organic standards for their industry.

 

Buffer Zone

An area located between certified organic land and adjacent non-organic land which prevents prohibited chemicals from drifting into the certified organic crop.

 

Certification Body

An organization that provides organic certification to producers or processors. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency provides a list of certifiers that have been accredited by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to certify organic products; or recognised under an organic trade arrangement with a foreign competent authority under the Organic Products Regulations, 2009.

 

Food Irradiation

Food is treated with ionizing radiation to kill microorganisms and extend the shelf life of the food. Critics warn of the potentially harmful unintended health impacts of this process. Food irradiation is not allowed in organic production.

 

Genetic Engineering

New crop varieties are being created by artificially manipulating the genes of food plants or animals. GE or Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) foods have been rejected in many countries because the potential to create new allergens and toxins poses an unknown risk to human health. GMOs create environmental issues by compromising the natural seed bank and encouraging increased chemical use. Genetic engineering is not permitted in organic production.

Natural

Some advertisers use the term “natural” to promote sales but its use is not regulated. “Natural” does not indicate that a product is organic or healthy.

Pesticide

A chemical used to kill pests. Pesticides include herbicides (for plants/weeds), insecticides (for insects), fungicides (for fungi), rodenticides (for rodents), acaricides (for mites), molluscicides (for snails) and fumigants (used to sterilize soil).