What Does "Natural" Really Mean?

Writing Unjunk Your Junk Food was a real eye-opener. Firstly, we were surprised by how many conventional products still contained hazardous ingredients, trans fats in particular, but also high-fructose corn syrup, monosodium glutamate, and artificial colors. Secondly, the hundreds of mysterious ingredients that showed up on some ingredients lists became even more puzzling when, after hours of research we still couldn’t find any information about them. Thirdly, we had many debates over how to deal with ‘natural’ products that contained questionable ingredients (meaning, we knew they weren’t entirely safe but the overall products were still better than their conventional alternatives).

In the past, our rule of thumb was, ‘if you don’t recognize an ingredient, or if it sounds like a chemical additive, avoid it.’ So we were taken aback by our own reactions when certain dubious ingredients that showed up frequently on labels such as soy lecithin, guar gum, and maltodextrin suddenly didn’t sound so bad. In other words, we were becoming desensitized.

Foods labeled ‘natural’ and ‘all natural’ have come under fire recently, with lawsuits pending against multiple companies using the claim on their food products. The lawsuits accuse manufacturers of including synthetic or questionable ingredients on foods labeled ‘natural’ including genetically modified ingredients and pesticides, among others.

By definition, the term ‘natural’ should mean “present in or produced by nature” – for example, an apple before it’s processed into applesauce or apple juice. But with popular brands and multinational companies getting involved by producing foods labeled ‘natural’ (or buying up smaller companies that produced natural or organic food that previously fell into the health food market) the term has become deceptively gray.

Part of the problem is that the FDA hasn’t updated their guide to using the term ‘natural’ since 1993. According to the FDA:

From a food science perspective, it is difficult to define a food product that is

'natural' because the food has probably been processed and is no longer the

product of the earth.That said, FDA has not developed a definition for use of

the term natural or its derivatives. However, the agency has not objected to the

use of the term if the food does not contain added color, artificial flavors, or

synthetic substances.

1993 article,“What is the meaning of 'natural' on the label of food?”

By this guideline, notoriously dangerous ingredients such as high-fructose corn syrup could be considered natural. It is derived from corn, after all. Consumers have had enough. A survey conducted by Food Navigator USA reveals that close to two-thirds of respondents feel that the FDA needs to create a formal and updated definition of the term ‘natural’.

We’d like to know what you think. Reply with your feedback below or post on our facebook wall.

Andrea Donsky, Randy Boyer & Lisa Tsakos

Co-Authors, Unjunk Your Junk Food

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References:

www.freedictionary.com

http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/Transparency/Basics/ucm214868.htm

http://www.theatlantic.com/life/archive/2011/11/would-you-consider-high-fructose-corn-syrup-natural-the-fda-does/248101/

www.foodnavigator-usa.com