© 2024 University of Missouri - KBIA
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

'Natural' food labels lack regulation, naturally

The "All Natural" label can mean different things for different products.
Blue Bunny Ice Cream
/
Flickr
The "All Natural" label can mean different things for different products.

What does it take for a food product to be labeled "Natural"?

Not much, it seems.

While that big "Natural" label on a package of meat has nothing to do with how an animal was raised, it at least has a definition: "minimally processed with no artificial ingredients.”  When "Natural" shows up on other food products -- everything from granola bars to dressings, and even soda --   the meaning is less certain.

According to the Food and Drug Administration web site: "It is difficult to define a food product that is 'natural' because the food has probably been processed and is no longer the product of the earth. That said, the FDA has not developed a definition for use of the term natural or its derivatives."

Because there's no definition, the FDA doesn't review or approve the label each time it's used. It's up to the companies to decide if their product is natural or not.

The FDA attempted to  define the term"natural" in 1989, but ultimately gave up four years later, citing resource limitations and other priorities.  In 1993, the FDA clarified that artificial color, flavors or synthetic substances cannot be considered natural.  However high fructose corn syrup (some uses), enriched flour, and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils are considered natural by the FDA.

In the recent years there have been a spate of lawsuitsagainst various companies for misuse of the label "natural." In these cases, the prosecutors have been individuals or groups — not the FDA.

Just this year the Kellogg Co.’s Kashi has been accused of inappropriately labeling products as natural. The class action lawsuit alleges that Kashi shakes marketed as natural contain sodium molybdate, phytonadione, and sodium selenite.

recent poll by Food Navigator found two-thirds of respondents felt the FDA should come up with a more clear definition of natural.

What do you think?

Jessica is Harvest Public Media's connection to Central Missouri. She joined Harvest in July 2010. Jessica has spent time on NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday and WNYC's Soundcheck, and reported and produced for WNIN-FM in Evansville, Ind. She grew up in the City of Chicago, studied at the University of Tulsa and has helped launch local food gardens in Oklahoma and Indiana.