Natural (and Unnatural) Food Glossary

A substance that counteracts the normal physiological process of oxidation (better known as “aging”). Antioxidant-rich foods include berries (especially high in antioxidants are blueberries, acai berries, cranberries and blackberries), beans, artichokes, broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, tomatoes, red grapes, garlic, spinach, tea, carrots, whole grains and Russet potatoes.

The cultivation of freshwater and saltwater organisms, such as fish, shellfish, and aquatic plants.

An ecological and sustainable farming system, based on the anthroposophical teachings of Rudolf Steiner. The practice of biodynamics employs the philosophy that the farm should be seen and treated as a whole organism and should be a closed, self-nourishing system. Farm health is addressed through the use of soil and plant amendments and recognizes astrologic factors over the use of synthetic inputs to maximize soil fertility.

A chronic, degenerative disease which affects the central nervous system of cattle; it is caused by an aberrant protein called a prion. BSE is also known as Mad Cow Disease. Click here www.willystreet.coop/madcow to read Willy Street Co-op’s BSE statement.

Bisphynol A

An area located between certified organic cropland and an adjacent area, such as conventional cropland or a highway, to minimize the possibility of contamination. The size of the buffer zone depends on the certifying organization and the type of crop.

A bird raised in a chicken house that may or may not offer access to the outdoors

Under USDA Organic Standards, any food sold as “organic” must be certified by a government-approved agency.

A way to decaffeinate coffee beans. The beans are bathed in liquefied carbon dioxide, dissolving the caffeine into the CO2, which is separated from the beans.

The occurrence of organic products coming into contact with conventional products. Once this happens, by definition, the organic products can no longer be sold as certified organic.

An increasingly popular method of supporting local farmers while obtaining fresh, in-season, local produce. The consumer purchases a share of the farm’s harvest, helping to cover its yearly operating budget. In exchange, the farm provides a supply of fresh produce throughout its growing season. CSAs reinforce connections between local farmers and local consumers as well as develop the local economy.

A mixture that consists largely of decayed organic matter and is used for fertilizing and conditioning land.

The movement of particles or droplets through the air from the area where it is being applied to locations outside the targeted area. When drifting occurs, pesticides can affect more than just the crops they're intended for. Organic fields must use a buffer zone to help guard against this occurrence.

A large, industrial operation housing animals in confined areas where they are treated with hormones to maximize growth and yield, and with antibiotics to prevent disease. Animal rights advocates have decried the living conditions for the animals, and environmental groups have sued some operations for the huge amounts of waste they generate.

The practice of dealing with producers in developing countries in ways that are more equitable and less exploitative. General principles include minimum prices, credit availability, sustainable agricultural methods, and dealing directly with farmers rather than third parties. The goal is to move workers into a position of stability, security and self-sufficiency.

Food and Drug Administration

Poultry that is not confined, and has access to the outdoors for a minimum of five minutes per day. The term “free range” does not guarantee that the animal was raised without antibiotics or under cruelty-free circumstances, and there are no stipulations for the cleanliness of the outdoor area. The USDA has defined “free range” to apply only to poultry production, so the use of this term for beef or eggs is unregulated.

Sometimes used to mean “free range,” but the use of this term is unregulated, meaning that there is no legally recognized definition of “free to roam.”

A person whose diet consists of only the fruit of plants (including vegetable-like fruits such as tomatoes and cucumbers). Some fruitarians will eat only what falls (or would fall) naturally from a plant, in order to avoid killing the plant.

A plant or animal whose genome has been modified by humans in some way. Scientists do so to take desirable qualities in one organism (such as better resistance to disease or increased yield) and apply them to another. Opponents of this practice, some of whom term GMO-derived foods as “Frankenfoods,” complain that tampering with genetic structure could produce new toxins and allergens, create herbicide-resistant weeds, spread disease across species and eventually wipe out non-GMO plants and animals.

Generally recognized as safe

Products from ruminants (cattle, goats, sheep) that have eaten nothing but their mother’s milk and grass. Since pigs and poultry cannot subsist solely on grass, this term should not be used to describe any of their products. This term is currently unregulated by the USDA.

Products from ruminants (usually cattle) that have eaten grass for the last 3 to 6 months of their lives.

Produce grown from an open-pollinated seed variety usually at least 50 years old; additionally, a plant is not usually called an heirloom if it is grown widely and commercially, regardless of its age. Also livestock that is physically closer to its natural state, not having been bred or altered to fit commercial standards. The flavor of the heirloom food is thought to be superior because it is not cross-bred to create a product that will withstand cross-country shipping, or have perfectly blemish-free skin.

A form of medicine based upon the “law of similars,” also know as “like cures like,” a principal first defined by Samuel Hahnemann in 1796. A central thesis of homeopathy is that an ill person can be treated using a substance that can produce, in a healthy person, symptoms similar to those caused by the illness. Homeopathic remedies are made with minuscule quantities of the plant, animal or mineral substance thought to stimulate self-healing in the patient. According to Hahnemann, serial dilution, with shaking (or succession) between each dilution, removes the toxic effects of the substance, while the essential qualities are retained by the diluent (water, sugar or alcohol).

Hydrogenation is the process of adding hydrogen to oil. Partial hydrogenation makes the oil denser; full hydrogenation creates a solid fat. Partially hydrogenated oil is often used as a substitute for butter because is it less expensive and has a longer shelf life, but still has butter's creamy texture and flavor-enhancing properties. Hydrogenated oils contain high levels of trans fats.

[no-glossary]An ecologically based strategy for pest (both weed and animal) control that utilizes natural enemies, weather, and crop management, among other factors.[/no-glossary]

A person living on a diet made up of vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts, eggs and dairy products.

Relating to a diet based on the Chinese cosmological principles of yin and yang that in its most rigorous forms consists primarily of whole grains and requires caution to avoid malnutrition, scurvy, or anemia.

The growing of single varieties of corn, wheat, rice or other crops over a wide area.

Meat and poultry calling themselves “natural” must not contain any artificial flavoring, colors, chemical preservatives, or artificial or synthetic ingredients, and cannot be more than “minimally processed” (which is defined by USDA as a process that does not fundamentally alter the raw product). There is no legal definition for "natural" in regard to products other than those made from beef and poultry. Natural foods are not necessarily organic.

Owner Resource Area

According to the National Organic Program: Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled organic a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too.

Coined in the 1970s by Australian Bill Mollison: "a beneficial assembly of plants and animals in relation to human settlements, mostly aimed towards household and community self reliance, and perhaps as a 'commercial endeavor' only arising from a surplus from the system."

Partial hydrogenation hardens oils but does not make them fully solid.

[no-glossary]Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone, a bioengineered hormone designed to be injected into cows to force them to produce more milk than they normally would. Some studies have shown that drinking milk from cows given rBGH increases a person's chances of contracting some diseases, although the FDA has approved the hormone.[/no-glossary]

[no-glossary]According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), recyclable is defined as "products can be collected, separated or recovered from the solid waste stream and used again, or reused in the manufacture or assembly of another package or product through an established recycling program."[/no-glossary]

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the term "recycled" can be used for products or packaging that contain either pre-consumer or post-consumer recycled materials. The percentage of recycled material should be listed (unless the entire product is recycled). The type of recycled material and the amount of the material that is post-consumer content need not be listed. Unless a certification program is cited, the company's claim is not independently verified.

A serial dilution is the stepwise dilution of a substance in solution. Usually the dilution factor at each step is constant, resulting in a geometric progression of the concentration in a logarithmic fashion. A ten-fold serial dilution could be 1 M, 0.1 M, 0.01 M, 0.001 M...

Shade-grown or shade-tree-grown coffee refers to coffee beans grown beneath a canopy of shade-trees. Traditionally all coffee was grown this way, and the variety of trees and the animals inhabiting them helped to control pests. When leaf rust started afflicting coffee trees, many growers began cultivating other coffee bean tree varieties that didn't need shade. Some growers believe that the agricultural practices that support the "sun-tolerant" trees harm the environment. It is important to note, however, that not all growing locations have enough consistent sunlight to warrant shade-trees.

A movement dedicated to the sensory apprecation of food and preserving regional and artisanally-crafted foods and beverages. It is also opposed to fast food. For more information, see their website http://www.slowfoodusa.org.

[no-glossary]Per the Congressional 1990 "Farm Bill" [Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (FACTA), Public Law 101-624, Title XVI, Subtitle A, Section 1603], "the term sustainable agriculture means an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will, over the long term:
• satisfy human food and fiber needs
• enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agricultural economy depends
• make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls
• sustain the economic viability of farm operations
• enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole.[/no-glossary]

A process to decaffeinate coffee beans. Beans are soaked in hot water, drawing out the flavor (i.e. the sugars and peptides). The water is kept and the beans discarded. The water is then run through a carbon filter to remove caffeine molecules. New coffee beans are then added to this flavored water. But because this water is already saturated with the sugars and peptides, only the caffeine is drawn out. The process is certified organic and 100% chemical free.

[no-glossary]Also known as trans fatty acids. A small amount of trans fat natually occurs in milk, meat and other animal-based products. It is found in much higher amounts, however, in hydrogenated oils that are used to make some vegetable shortening, margarines, cookies, crackers, and other snack foods. Trans fats tend to raise overall blood cholesterol levels and in some studies have been linked to heart disease and cancer.[/no-glossary]

The interval between when a farmer last uses substances banned by organic standards and when he or she can start growing an organic crop - usually at least three years.

Used to describe some body care or cleaning products. This term is descriptive only - it has no legal meaning.

A strict vegetarian who consumes no animal food or dairy products. Veganism usually also excludes honey and the wearing and use of animal products (leather, silk, wool, lanolin, gelatin...). A "dietary vegan" is one who follows a vegan diet, but may use non-food animal products.

The theory or practice of living on a diet made up of vegetables, fruits, grains and nuts. Strict vegetarians eat no meat, fish, eggs or milk.

Grown in the wild without pesticides and harvested by hand.

Williamson Street Grocery Co-op