Just what does it take to be certified organic?

To be labeled "100 percent organic":

Food must be made up of only organically produced ingredients.*

To be labeled "organic":

Food must contain at least 95 percent organically produced ingredients. The rest of the ingredients must be approved as non-agricultural substances or commercially unavailable as organic.*

*Water and salt are excluded from the above requirements.

To be labeled "made with organic ingredients":

Processed products must contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients and list up to three of these on the product label.

None of the products listed above may be produced with ionizing radiation, sewage sludge or excluded methods to be qualified as organic. Along with organic ingredients, the name and address of the certifying agent must be listed on the label of the final product.

Crop standards:

Land must be free of banned substances for at least three years before organic crops may be harvested. Sewage sludge, ionizing agents and genetic engineering are prohibited.

Livestock standards:

(for animals used for organically produced products such as milk and eggs)

Must be fed certified 100 percent organic feed. May not be given hormones or antibiotics. All animals must be able to go outdoors.

Handling standards:

Handlers must not mix organic and non-organic or prohibited substances.