USDA Organic is the United States Department of Agriculture's certification program for organic agricultural products. It's one of the most recognized organic labels in the world.
For a product to carry the USDA Organic seal:
- Single-ingredient products must be 100% organic
- Multi-ingredient products labeled "organic" must contain at least 95% organic ingredients
- Products with 70-94% organic ingredients can say "made with organic ingredients"
USDA Organic standards prohibit:
- Synthetic fertilizers and pesticides
- Genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
- Antibiotics and growth hormones in livestock
- Irradiation and sewage sludge
The certification applies to food, personal care products, textiles, and other agricultural products. For textiles, USDA Organic certifies the raw fiber (like cotton), while GOTS certifies the entire production chain from fiber to finished product.
USDA Organic certification requires annual inspections and detailed record-keeping by certified operations.