Sarah Davis is with the Institute of Food Technologists. She starts off this video talking about the term “natural.” A lot of different food manufacturers can slap the word “natural” on their product, but how do you know if it really is? The FDA and USDA have no rules around the term right now, and some companies don’t have a marketing conscience, so they’ll tell you it is natural when it really isn’t.
Natural SHOULD mean that the product has no added flavors, colors, or synthetic substances in them. Some products do not have these things, but are labeled “natural” rather than “organic” because in order for something to be called organic it must follow certain very strict guidelines to be called as such. The USDA DOES have rules about the term “organic.”
Even when something IS “natural” it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s good for you. It is important to read the ingredients to make sure there is nothing in the product that can hurt you.
You have to make some judgment calls yourself, as well. For instance, chicken can be labeled as “all natural” even if the meat has been injected with salt water for freshness and juiciness. Salt water is, in fact, all natural, but the fact that it is added to the chicken during processing makes some people uncomfortable. It’s up to you to decide whether that is OK with you or not.
As with anything, you have to use common sense and be educated as to the things that are good for you, and the things that are not so good for you.
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