Taking The Questionability Out of Clean Eating

Eating foods that are organic and natural has always been a core focus for my family as well as for the jovial and bionaturae brands. We live in a world where a plethora of fillers, additives and modifications are allowed in the foods we have access to on the shelves. When I was growing up, it was difficult to find foods that were organic, natural, and safe for my gluten sensitivity. And I know that the generations before me had an even tougher time shopping all organic! I am positive that most people reading this can relate to where I’m coming from.

When I moved to Italy, it became a bit easier for our family because there were no genetically modified fruits or vegetables in most of Europe and it was so much easier to pick up fresh, organic foods from the market or grocery store. You didn’t have to question whether a fruit or vegetable was genetically modified. We weren’t inundated with questionable foods in Italy like we had been in the US. That challenge and that realization is what helped make us so dedicated to making it easier for US shoppers to identify whether a food is organic, natural or safe for you to eat.

Whether you’re a seasoned organic shopper or you’re using the new year to gain a new perspective on the purity of the foods you eat, there are tools that can make the shopping decision easier for you. For us, one of those tools is transparent labels and clear, obvious certifications on our packaging to make the decision easier for you and to help you feel more confident in your choice. Our goal is to make more people aware of what to look out for in the foods that they eat and to help them become more familiar with these certifications.

We know you’ve seen a lot of these logos in the grocery store, like the Non-GMO logo with the butterfly. We all know it’s a good thing, but do we really know what that logo truly means? Here are some certification logos we provide to help you easily identify whether our products are organic, natural and safe for your food sensitivities or allergies:

USDA Organic
This logo verifies that a product has been certified and recognized by the United States Department of Agriculture as having ingredients that are “grown and processed according to federal guidelines addressing, among many factors, soil quality, animal raising practices, pest and weed control, and use of additives. And the producers rely on natural substances and physical, mechanical, or biologically based farming methods to the fullest extent possible.” Not only does it verify that the product is organic, made without GMOs nor herbicides, but it also tells you that the farmers are keeping up with their organic practices – they must pass an inspection once per year. Prior to getting involved with the business, I didn’t even realize you had to get food certified as organic in the US – for me, in Italy, it was never a question whether food was organic or not. For more information about the USDA Organic certification, we’ve found this page at usda.gov very helpful.

Non-GMO Project Verified
Many crops have been genetically modified to better resist herbicides, which has segued to the use of even more toxic herbicides like glyphosate, which again, is something I never had to even think about until I was involved in the US market. This logo certifies that we have been evaluated by the Non-GMO Project and are in compliance with the Non-GMO Standard. The standard essentially requires that the food is made without ingredients that were derived from genetically engineered organisms. You can learn more about GMOs here.

The Detox Project Glyphosate Residue Free
The Detox Project vets and certifies that products do not contain glyphosate, the harmful chemical found in herbicides like Roundup®. This is similar to the USDA Organic verification, confirming that the product was not grown with herbicides or chemicals, but The Detox Project verifies that there aren’t even traces of glyphosate found in the product. Glyphosate is the world’s most used herbicide. Many theorize that glyphosate is carcinogenic to humans, which is a risk that we don’t want to take, and why we didn’t stop at just the USDA Organic logo. We have found The Detox Project’s website helpful in explaining the dangers of glyphosate.

GFCO Certified
This certification from Gluten Free Certification Organization indicates that the manufacturer has followed stringent steps to prevent gluten cross-contamination and that the food has been independently tested by a third-party for the presence of gluten. We think it’s important to note that this certification is not federally required; instead GFCO sets a higher standard than government regulations on gluten free labeling. Learn more about GFCO here. Gluten-Free certifications actually are something I grew up looking for, and I’ve found them very helpful! It makes shopping so much easier. In my experience, the more obvious the gluten free label, the better!

Best regards,

Guilia