The truth behind organic and fair trade coffee labels

Many qualities that consumers look for in the food and beverage products they buy have become buzzwords appearing on packages of all kinds of goods. But official designations like “Fair Trade” come with their own sets of quantifiable standards, and it’s important that consumers know exactly what certain coffee labels really signify.

To this end, a recent NPR story investigated the nitty-gritty of coffee production to determine the factors that go into these certifications. “USDA Organic” relates to various factors involved with the coffee’s growth, specifically a lack of artificial or altered seeds and other chemicals, such as pesticides. It’s important to distinguish between the actual USDA logo and a product which simply says “organic,” as many do, without clarifying that it has been certified.

Other common labels that appear on coffee bags are items such as Fairtrade International, which secures a percentage of profits for small, lawfully-run producers, and the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center “Bird Friendly” symbol. According to NPR, this is one of the rarer labels to find, only appearing on a little more than 10 million pounds as of 2011 (compared to the hundreds of millions given other certifications). “Bird friendly” doesn’t just mean a lack of harmful chemicals: it also denotes growing shade trees, lowering the chances of pollution and keeping the methods of production sustainable, among other things.

With so many companies at different levels of exposure making labels for their products aiming to engage as well as advertise, it can be tricky for companies to keep their space requirements free for these types of labels, and to know exactly what each entails. Proper research and a strong understanding of the rules are important when preparing any kind of product labels, and even more so when it is a commonly consumed beverage whose creation and distribution affects communities around the world.