Search
Sustainable jargon
Why labels can be meaningless
By Culinate staff
April 28, 2011
Deciphering food labels — on, say, a carton of eggs — can be frustratingly confusing. Some terms, such as “organic,” have a legal meaning, while others, such as “sustainable,” simply don’t. As earnest farmers and producers try to figure out what true sustainability is, reports Rebekah Denn, many are moving away from labeling altogether. Which means that shoppers have to actually talk to purveyors, instead of just reading — and puzzling over — the labels.
Sift How organic is that “organic” egg?Does organic feed alone count? | Dinner Guest BlogSaying no thanks to meat that’s not humanely raisedMy New Year’s resolution | All BooksFair FoodGrowing a Healthy, Sustainable Food System for All | FeaturesTo market, to marketFarmers’ markets are blooming across the land |
Sift | |
| Here’s where we sort and report the latest in food news. | |
- Crying fowl — Over proposed new chicken regulations
- Obesity, televised — An HBO documentary series raises questions
- Testing recipe writers — No, you’re not a slow cook
- Coupon economics — But no food politics
Want more? Comb the archives.
Advertisement
| | Sweet on liqueursTake another look at these spiritsOur resident bartender welcomes a revival of the sweet stuff. |
ReviewsMycophiliaRevelations from the Weird World of Mushrooms | Our TableEgg-boiling essentialsMark Bittman’s gone back to basics |
Vine to TableGame for winePairing wild fare and the grape | The Produce DiariesMorelsPleasure in the hunt |
Most Popular Articles
Editor’s Choice
Most Emailed
Contact Culinate
| Feedback
|
Main RSS Feed
| About RSS
| Privacy Policy
| User Agreement
| Advertisers
| Follow Culinate on
Facebook
or 
Twitter
Copyright © 2006–2012 Culinate, Inc. All rights reserved. r2a8d55e06bf1
Main RSS Feed
| About RSS
| Privacy Policy
| User Agreement
| Advertisers
| Follow Culinate on
Facebook
or Twitter Copyright © 2006–2012 Culinate, Inc. All rights reserved. r2a8d55e06bf1
There is 1 comment on this item
Add a comment
1. by David Becker on May 3, 2011 at 2:22 PM PDT
The question about sustainability and food production will come up more and more in the coming election.
As you note asking about growing methods. But don’t jump right to organic since those fruits and vegetables could be coming from a farm 5,000 miles away.
The answer from one NY chef is whether we leaving the land better than we found it. Can we grow food this way in perpetuity?
http://friendofthefarmer.com/2011/03/sustainability-mcdonalds-new-york-farmers-market/
Add a comment