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Guide

Organic Food in Australia

What "organic" means on an Australian label, how to spot real certification, what research says it does and doesn't do, and how to buy it on a budget.

Organic food can cost a lot more than the regular kind, so it's fair to ask what you're paying for. The answer is more interesting, and more Australian, than you might expect: here, the word "organic" on a label isn't legally protected the way it is in some countries. A certification logo is. This guide explains what the labels mean, what the science says about organic food, and how to decide where it's worth your money.

What "organic" means

Organic farming generally avoids synthetic pesticides and fertilisers, and organic standards also set rules for how animals are raised. Certified organic farms and processors have to follow a written standard and are audited against it, with every product traceable back to its origin 2.

The Australian catch: the word isn't protected at home

This surprises most shoppers. According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), organic certification is not legally required for a product sold in Australia to be called organic 1.

There is a voluntary Australian Standard for organic and biodynamic products, AS 6000–2015, but businesses selling within Australia don't have to follow it 1. The National Standard for Organic and Bio-Dynamic Produce is mandatory only for exports 14. Exporters must be certified by a certifying body approved by the Department of Agriculture 4.

That doesn't mean anything goes. Under Australian consumer law, any organic claim, whether or not it mentions a standard, must be able to be proved 1. If a business can't back up its claim, the ACCC can act on it as misleading.

The practical takeaway: the word "organic" alone tells you less than you'd think. A certification logo tells you a lot more.

How to spot real certification

Look for a logo from a recognised certifier, along with a certification number.

  • The "bud" logo. ACO Certification Ltd (formerly Australian Certified Organic) is Australia's largest certifier, with over 2,000 operators in its system 2. Its bud logo is the most common organic mark on Australian shelves, including at Coles and Woolworths 2. ACO certifies to both the National Standard and its own Australian Certified Organic Standard, and its website lets you search certified products and operators 25.
  • NASAA Certified Organic. The National Association for Sustainable Agriculture Australia calls itself Australia's original organic industry association, and it runs its own Organic and Biodynamic Standard 3.
  • Other approved certifiers. The Department of Agriculture keeps a list of approved certifying bodies for exports 4.

If a product says "organic" with no logo and no certifier, you're relying on the seller's word. You can ask them how they'd prove it.

Watch out for look-alike words too. "Natural", "made with organic ingredients", "chemical-free" and "farm fresh" aren't certifications.

Is organic food healthier?

This is where the evidence gets mixed, so let's be careful.

A 2012 Stanford review in the Annals of Internal Medicine looked at 240 studies 6. It found:

  • No consistent, clinically meaningful difference in nutrients between organic and conventional food 6.
  • Organic produce was 30% less likely to carry detectable pesticide residues, though the difference in exceeding legal safety limits was small 6.
  • Bacteria resistant to three or more antibiotics turned up more often on conventional chicken and pork 6.
  • Two studies found lower pesticide levels in the urine of children eating organic diets 6.

A larger 2014 review in the British Journal of Nutrition, covering 343 studies, came to a somewhat different conclusion 7. It found organic crops had higher levels of antioxidants such as polyphenols, less of the toxic metal cadmium, and pesticide residues about a quarter as often 7.

What neither review shows is that people who eat organic food live longer or get sick less. Those studies are hard to do and haven't been done well yet. So: organic food tends to carry fewer pesticide residues, and may contain more of some plant compounds. Calling it a health cure goes beyond the evidence.

Other reasons people choose organic

Plenty of people buy organic for reasons beyond their own plate: soil health, wildlife, farm workers' exposure to chemicals, animal welfare standards, or supporting small local farmers. Those are good reasons, and you get to weigh them for yourself.

Buying organic on a budget

  • Prioritise. If you buy only some organic food, many people start with produce they eat often and don't peel, like leafy greens and berries.
  • Buy in season. In-season organic produce at farmers' markets is often close in price to conventional.
  • Grow a little. A pot of fresh herbs on the windowsill, grown without sprays, costs very little. Radishes are ready in weeks.
  • Go organic on staples. Dry goods like oats, lentils and chickpeas are often only a little dearer organic and last for months. See our pantry staples guide.
  • Waste less. The cheapest organic food is the stuff you actually eat. Our fruit and vegetables collection has ways to use it all.

Organic or not, wash it

Organic produce can still carry dirt and germs. Wash all fruit and vegetables under running water before eating, without soap 8. Our food safety guide has more.

Sources

  1. Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, "Organic claims". https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/advertising-and-promotions/organic-claims
  2. ACO Certification Ltd, "About ACO". https://aco.net.au/about/
  3. National Association for Sustainable Agriculture Australia (NASAA). https://www.nasaa.com.au/
  4. Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, "Exporting organic and bio-dynamic goods from Australia". https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/export/controlled-goods/organic-bio-dynamic
  5. ACO Certification Ltd, "Certification process". https://aco.net.au/certification-process/
  6. Smith-Spangler, C. et al., "Are organic foods safer or healthier than conventional alternatives? A systematic review", Annals of Internal Medicine 157(5), 348–366, 2012. https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-157-5-201209040-00007
  7. Barański, M. et al., "Higher antioxidant and lower cadmium concentrations and lower incidence of pesticide residues in organically grown crops: a systematic literature review and meta-analyses", British Journal of Nutrition 112(5), 794–811, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114514001366
  8. Food Standards Australia New Zealand, "Food safety basics". https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/consumer/prevention-of-foodborne-illness/food-safety-basics