Find Those Yellow Stickers!

By Susan Stewart, Organic Certification Coordinator

Have you seen those little yellow stickers that say "Certified Organic" around a mini Wedge logo? They are everywhere, on products throughout each department at the Wedge. I challenge you to find and count them as you shop.

Shopping for organic food is a choice based on priorities and personal preferences. To help our customers easily distinguish the organic from the conventional, we use these yellow stickers in the Bulk aisle, the Meat and Seafood case, the Deli cases, Produce, Health and Body Care, Cheese and on bulk teas, herbs and spices.

However, the stickers do not mean the Wedge itself certifies organic products, as only approved certifying agencies can do that. They instead let you know that any item wearing the sticker has been inspected by a third-party certifier, who then declares the item has been organically produced. When you examine a label that says "organic", the name or logo of the third-party certifier should always be visible, often near the nutritional information or ingredients list. If you don't find this, you know the product label is making a claim it cannot guarantee.

In the United States, only the National Organic Program (NOP) approves the certification agents required to inspect organic products. To achieve organic certification, ingredients must be produced according to NOP standards and then stored in a way that maintains organic integrity. This also means the facilities where these products are made (and their use of cleaning, sanitizing and pest management practices) have been certified.

We understand labels can be confusing, and that scanning over every item often requires more time than you have on hand while shopping. However, when you see an organic label, and it identifies the certifier that made it so, you already know a lot about that product.