Issues in Defining Natural

Photo: Seedlings

Unlike organic certification, there are no commonly agreed upon national or international standards that formally define and regulate "natural foods" or "all-natural foods." The natural products industry defines natural foods as foods that contain no hormones, antibiotics, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives that were not in the original food, and are foods that are minimally processed—either mechanically, chemically, or by temperature. This definition therefore excludes foods derived from new artificial processes such as genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Learn about Down to Earth's GMO policy (PDF Format).

Down to Earth chooses products based on a strict selection process. We avoid the following types of ingredients in our grocery products, natural living items and in our deli:

  • Artificial coloring
  • Preservatives
  • Hydrogenated oils
  • Bleached or bromated flours