The FDA states that if a food product is labeled as “natural”, nothing artificial, such as artificial food coloring, has been added to it. Additionally, the FDA does not consider the word “natural” on food as describing any nutritional or health benefits.

Products labeled as natural are products containing no artificial ingredients or added colors and only minimally processed. Minimal processing means that the product was processed in a manner that does not fundamentally alter the product.

Natural and Organic label claims are used on food products to describe how they were grown, raised and/or processed. Two federal government agencies oversee the production and labeling of food in the United States to ensure that the label claims are truthful and not misleading.

To list “organic” on your product labels, certification by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Organic Program is mandatory. “Natural” products, however, don’t currently have any such rules or regulations from either the USDA or Federal Drug Administration (FDA).