“Pesticide residues,” “rapid growth and artificial ripening,” “illegal additives”... These alarming terms always make consumers feel uneasy when buying vegetables at markets or supermarkets. Fortunately, many supermarkets now offer produce labeled as “organic food.” Although the prices are somewhat higher, they still give customers with a certain economic capacity some room for choice. However, what exactly is organic food? How can one buy authentic organic food?文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/en/11496/
Zhao Yafeng, a business expert from the Food Supervision Division of the Suzhou Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, explained: “Organic food” is in fact an internationally recognized term for pollution-free natural food. According to China's national standards, organic food must at least not use chemically synthesized pesticides and fertilizers, nor feed additives, and must not undergo artificial ripening. It also cannot be genetically modified food. Compared with green food and pollution-free food, organic food has stricter controls on the use of non-natural raw materials. The reporter also learned that authentic organic food cannot be “self-proclaimed” by producers or sellers. Instead, it requires a certification body approved by the Certification and Accreditation Administration of the PRC to inspect its production and processing sites, conduct sampling tests in accordance with national standards, and only after obtaining a certification certificate can it be considered “authentic.” Imported organic food likewise requires certification from a Chinese certification body. 文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/en/11496/
Experts have summarized four tips that can be used to identify authentic organic food: 文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/en/11496/
Check the logo—— 文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/en/11496/
The smallest sales package or food item of organic food bears the “National Organic Food Logo,” which includes the words “China Organic Product” in Chinese and “ORGANIC” in English, along with an “organic code” and the name of a certification body approved by the Certification and Accreditation Administration of the PRC. This is the most critical point for identification. 文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/en/11496/
Verify the certificate—— 文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/en/11496/
文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/en/11496/