Now that it’s Earth Month, retailers are pelting us with “natural” versions of their products. But what does the term “natural” really mean? Is it a regulated term that implies certain standards? In a word: no. According to Consumer Reports’ Greener Choices, “There is no government or official definition for this term except on meat and poultry products as defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Meat and poultry carrying the ‘natural’ claim must not contain any artificial flavoring, color ingredients, chemical preservatives or artificial or synthetic ingredients and are only ‘minimally processed,’ defined by USDA as a process that does not fundamentally alter the raw product.” A “natural” body care product could be made from organic ingredients -- or it could be completely based on synthetic chemicals, topped off with a little herbal infusion.
The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) continues to balk at regulating the term “natural,” so for now, consumers are left to sleuth out the contents of “natural” products for themselves. Greener Choices offers an Eco-Labels web page where consumers can look up what specific labels on different types of products actually mean.
A few retailers, such as industry leader Whole Foods, have set their own standards. Whole Foods has created a new Premium Body Care seal of approval for body care products:
• No formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, including diazolidinyl urea and DMDM hydantoin. Potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate are allowed under the new seal.
• No parabens.
• Only physical sunscreens such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide; no chemical sunscreens such as oxybenzone and octyl methoxycinnamate.
• Only naturally-derived fragrances.
~ Lisa
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