V Sourcing & Producers
Label literacy in eight terms
Organic, pastured, free-range, heritage, A2, raw, what each word legally means, and doesn't.
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Each term on a package was won by a lobby and bounded by a regulation, and almost none of them mean what a shopper assumes. Organic governs inputs. Free-range sets a low bar. Pastured is better but unpoliced. The only label that never lies is a producer who will take your call and answer the awkward question.
Key points
The summary search engines extract.- 'Organic' regulates inputs, not animal welfare or nutrition.
- 'Free-range' and 'pastured' are not the same claim.
- The strongest label is a farmer who will answer the phone.