Guest Post: 4 Tips for Identifying Green Washing at the Grocery Store

February 24, 2012 by Brenda
Filed under Green Living, Guest Posts, Top Picks

When we commit to living greener lives, we do so for various reasons. Some of the more common reasons are saving money, doing our part to preserve and protect the environment, and just because it’s the right thing to do. At the same time, however, good intentions don’t necessarily translate into good results. One of the biggest pitfalls of attempting to live a green life is falling for green marketing scams, collectively known as “greenwashing.” Here’s how to identify these scams so that you don’t fall for them.

1. Learn the differences between certified organic and “all natural.”

Even though both terms “organic” and “all natural” can be misleading, “all natural” is the one label you have to watch out for the most. There are absolutely no USDA regulations that govern what constitutes the all-natural label, so essentially any item can be natural if a corporation wants to market it as such.

2. Certified free trade items are not necessarily all they’re cracked up to be.

When we buy items that are certified as free trade, we do so because we desire to know that our purchases don’t represent a system in which workers are exploited. At the same time, however, the certification process for free trade has undergone wide criticism, as a Financial Times article here notes. There’s no way of knowing whether every free trade item you buy truly comes from a place in which working conditions are humane.

3. Always read the ingredients list. This list doesn’t lie.

If there is one thing that you can rely on when it comes to purchasing food items from the grocery store, it’s the ingredients list, which by law must be placed on all foods sold in United States grocery stores. If a label says “all natural” but the ingredients list shows a plethora of chemical-sounding ingredients, you’ll know you’ve been fooled. Also be aware that ingredients are listed in order of quantity. So if items like “high-fructose corny syrup” are first on the list, you’ll know that you’re essentially buying processed sugar.

4. When time and money allows, avoid the advertizing altogether and go to a local farmer’s market instead.

Unfortunately, regulations don’t exist such that we are completely aware of where our food is coming from, what’s in it, and how it was made. Although farmer’s markets can be a bit more expensive than your regular grocery store fare, you will at least know where and how your food is produced, since you’ll be talking to the very people who grew and transported your food.

By-line:

Jemima Lopez is a freelance blogger and writer who writes for Zen College Life, the directory of higher education, distance learning, and best online colleges. She welcomes your comments at her email: lopezjemima 562@ gmail.com.

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