Question

What is organic food, and how is it now certified?

Short answer

Organic food is the food produced without the use of chemical substances and following eco-friendly methods. The certification process involves thorough on-site farm inspection, detailed record-keeping and annual renewals to ensure the food produced adheres to the defined standards of organic farming.

Step-by-step solution

Definition of Organic Food

Organic food may be defined as food products that are grown, processed, and packaged without the use of chemicals. It includes fruits, vegetables, dairy products, grains, bread, unprocessed food items, meat, and wine. They are not only free from any chemical components, but also produced using eco-friendly methods to maintain biodiversity and ecological balance.

Introduction to Organic Food Certification

Organic Food Certification is a certification process for producers of organic food and other organic agricultural products. In general, any business directly involved in food production can be certified, including seed suppliers, farmers, food processors, retailers and restaurants.

Process of certifying Organic Food

The certification process of organic food generally involves a set of steps to verify that an organic food product adheres to the prescribed quality standards. Firstly, the farm is inspected to ensure it adheres to the defined stardards of organic farming. Next, there is record-keeping to track all the substances and processes used in growing and processing the food. Finally, an annual inspection is made to ensure the standards are maintained and the food is truly organic.