Organic
Organic protein products are certified by the USDA to come from sources grown or raised without synthetic pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, antibiotics, growth hormones, or GMO inputs. Organic certification is the strictest sourcing claim on a protein label.
Why It Matters
Organic certification is most meaningful for plant proteins (pea, rice, hemp, soy) where pesticide residues are a real concern. For whey, USDA Organic means the cows ate organic feed and were not given hormones or antibiotics, which is a sourcing-ethics decision more than a nutrition one. Expect to pay 25 to 50 percent more for organic.
How to Spot It on a Label
The USDA Organic seal is a green-and-white circle. 100 percent organic means all ingredients are certified; organic means 95 percent plus; 'made with organic ingredients' means 70 percent plus and cannot use the seal. Orgain, KOS and Garden of Life live mostly in this category.
Examples from real products
Related Terms
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