It's believed that if we don't know about these labels, we won't pay attention to them. Therefore, I would like to introduce some environmental labels that can be seen in our country.

USDA Organic

One of the most recognized organic certification symbols, USDA Organic, was established by the United States Department of Agriculture. Foods that meet this standard must be free from pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Even meat, eggs, or dairy products must come from animals that have not been given antibiotics or growth hormones. Thus, USDA Organic ensures that nearly 100% of the production process is natural.

Q

In Thailand, the Q mark is awarded to pesticide-free vegetables and meats that have been inspected by the National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards (ACFS) under the GAP (Good Agricultural Practice) standards. This means that the water used in production must come from clean sources, free from contaminants, and there may be the use of pesticides from a list approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, but chemical substances must not be used at least 14 days before harvesting to ensure they decompose before reaching consumers.

MSC: Marine Stewardship Council

As many know, the fishing industry today has a significant impact on the oceans, including overfishing, the use of destructive fishing gear, and illegal labor.

The blue fish symbol, MSC, was created to indicate that seafood with this label is produced sustainably according to three principles: appropriate fishing practices to maintain fish populations, reducing environmental impact, and effective fisheries management, catching fish in legally designated waters.

Non-GMO Project

The Non-GMO Project is a label used for products in the United States and Canada only. It certifies that the product does not contain genetically modified organisms. In Thailand, GMO food labeling has not yet been legally established, so products like soy milk may only state that they are '100% natural' or may have a small note saying 'non-GMO'. It's important to pay attention to these details.

FAIRTRADE

The importance of the FAIRTRADE symbol is evident from its name. Fair Trade is a certification that focuses on fair trading systems, ensuring that all parties involved in the production process, from farmers to processors and laborers, are treated fairly. It maintains market prices and requires intermediaries to assist farmers appropriately, including environmental considerations, ensuring that products do not harm nature and do not contain GMOs.

FSC: Forest Stewardship Council

The cute tree logo with the FSC label may not be related to food safety, but it is commonly seen on paper packaging, such as milk or juice cartons. The Forest Stewardship Council is a non-profit organization that collaborates with various groups worldwide to create a certification system for wood and wood products, ensuring that they come from commercially planted forests that consider biodiversity and are managed responsibly, without harming natural forests or promoting monoculture that destroys the environment.

Thank you for the information from www.thaihealth.or.th