Every day, millions of consumers flood stores searching for "healthier" versions of their favorite food, snacks and personal care products.
A growing percentage of goods riding shelves today carry this claim, making it increasingly difficult to figure out which ones are really different.
We thought we could make this a little easier on you by outlining the distinction between "all natural" and organic.
To achieve an organic certification, the food growers and even the distributors must adhere to strict guidelines involving proper production and handling.
Some of the criteria include being able to prove a company's product is free from synthetic pesticides, is non-irradiated and grown without the use of harsh chemicals.
In addition, meat and dairy products must be free of hormones, antibiotics and steroids.
The last common thread of many organic operations is that they raise animals with compassion.
While this is not a requirement, many times chickens and cows are allowed to roam free on pastures rather than being cramped in cruelly small cages and stockyards.
A product that says "all natural", on the other hand, has not been required to meet any government guidelines.
In fact, there are no definite FDA guidelines for using the word natural on a food label or any other type of product.
No guidelines! So what is the difference between organic and all natural? It is a product that has been spared from synthetic chemicals and held to incredibly strict standards in its production and handling verse the same old thing with a fancy yet often deceitful label.