Organic food labeling: How to identify certified products

To identify authentic organic products in stores, consumers should look for three specific indicators rather than relying on vague marketing terms. According to quality expert Živilė Butvilaitė from Rimi Lietuva, terms such as ‘natural’, ‘farmer production’, or ‘non-GMO’ do not inherently mean a product is certified organic.

Authentic organic products are characterized by the European Union organic production logo, known as the ‘green leaf’. This logo must be accompanied by the certification body's code and information regarding where the agricultural raw materials were grown. In Lithuania, the certification body Ekoagros uses the code LT-EKO-001.

It is also important to note that origin labels like ‘Lithuanian agriculture’ or ‘EU agriculture’ refer to the location where the raw materials were grown, not necessarily where the final product was manufactured or packaged. Rimi Lietuva is participating in the ‘Good to know what you eat’ initiative organized by Ekoagros to promote better selection of organic foods.