What is the difference between "natural" and "organic"?  Both sound healthy and good for you. In fact, most consumers feel the two words are synonymous. For that matter, what does "artisanal" mean?  It might conjure up images of a small town bakery or cheese shop.  But does the FDA hold companies to a standard for what those buzz words mean?

Some words do hold a standard, as set by the FDA.  According to ABC News, "The term 'organic' is tightly regulated and means food was produced under approved methods and is free of synthetic fertilizers."  But what about "natural"?

"Natural" has no definition in the eyes of the FDA, and the word "artisanal" is the same.  Both are used by companies to imply something about their food, but there is no guideline set up as to what that word entails. This means that when you purchase items with these buzz words, there's no guarantee that they're any different from the products that don't advertise with these words.

The same is to be said for "cage-free" eggs.  If the label does not specify "pasture raised" with the phrase "cage-free", the treatment of those chickens is not guaranteed.  They will not have been in cages, but their ability to roam may be greatly hindered. 

There are no efforts moving forward by the FDA to keep tabs on these buzz words. Consumer watch groups, like the Center for Science in the Public Interest, are doing their best to inform the public of these deceitful and misleading word choices. They advocate that the best way to truly check out a product is to read the nutritional facts label. Those are still regulated by the FDA.