Given the choice, many people prefer natural products to items made with chemicals and toxins. Natural product retailers racked up $36 billion in sales in 2010, according to a survey conducted by Natural Foods Merchandiser. But is it possible to know if a product is made with natural ingredients just by reading the label?
"There are very few guidelines when it comes to labeling and natural products," said Caroline Freedman, founder of NurturMe Organic Baby Food. "If something is 'all natural' or says it's 'non-GMO' [genetically modified organisms] or even 'gluten free' -- there is no government standard certification to prove this."
Freedman said that while there is no governing body in place for products that claim to be "all natural," there are now organizations that have taken steps to certify glutens and GMOs.
"Organic certification is monitored, but there's nothing to hold companies accountable for all these other natural claims that you will see on the labels," she said. "We know this is something our customers are very concerned about."
Non-food items present labeling confusion, too. Suki Kramer, who started the Suki line of natural skin and hair products in 2002 after years of battling eczema, said the cosmetics world is a free-for-all regarding label regulations.
"We govern ourselves," Kramer said. "It's a voluntary process where the companies submit themselves to the FDA [Food and Drug Administration] rather than being required to report to the FDA."
Experts suggest being wary of items with a long list of ingredients.
"The more ingredients you see on a label, the more likely it is that chemicals are involved," said Eric Boyce, CEO of Vaska, a natural laundry care line.
