Many of you who read me here, and on my other (lately irregular, because of personal reasons) posts, know that I am a professional scientist. You also know that I am a cook (I like to think that I am a good one), a gardener, and a forager. As a matter of fact, Thursday I picked up a bunch of black walnuts for Christmas goodie baking, and Ashley has promised to assist me this year. Oh, before I continue, I realize that at least one reader is offended that she and I are best friends. I regret that our relationship causes animosity, but I am who I am, and she is who she is. In any event, the words in the title need definition. Here are the official ones.
Natural Food has no legal definition in the US. I can not speak for other countries, but in the US "Natural" means exactly nothing legally. Case closed.
Organic Food DOES have a legal definition in the US. It is a program administered by USDA, called the National Organic Program. The rules are sort of strict, but there are lots of loopholes. In a nutshell, the rules say that that food certified as "Organic" must follow some pretty obtuse guidelines that, in my reckoning, do not assure that things are organic at all. Here is the final rule, from 12 years ago. My fast translation is that no added hormones, pesticides, antibiotics, coloring, flavoring, or other ingredients can be added to food certified as "organic", except where it does not apply. It is a toothless tiger.
The other two words are a bit more difficult and have little legal definition. To me, as a chemist, artificial means something not (normally) found in nature. We shall see that this is not accurate at all, but I challenge my dear readers to come up with a better definition.
Finally, synthetic is even more problematic. Synthetic materials are those made by technology rather than by "natural" processes. Thus, to use Vitamin C as an example, the exact same chemical that occurs in lemons is "natural" but the chemical that is produced industrially is "synthetic".
Are you confused enough? My friends, we have barely touched the subject! Come on a rocky, and for many perhaps, a disappointing ride? You know that I am wont to do that!
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