New Report Finds “Regenerative” Food Labels Are a Confusing Patchwork
WASHINGTON — A new analysis of regenerative food labels reveals a rapidly expanding — but inconsistent — marketplace that risks causing consumer confusion. As interest in sustainably grown food grows, the Friends of the Earth report finds that products can bear similar claims but may represent vastly different farming practices on the ground. Consumers trying to make healthier and more environmentally responsible food choices face a grab bag of labels.
“While consumers might reasonably assume that ‘regenerative’ food is grown without toxic pesticides, that’s not always the case,” said Sarah Starman, senior campaigner at Friends of the Earth U.S. “Some regenerative labeling programs allow the use of synthetic pesticides, including substances linked to cancer, hormone disruption, infertility, and neurological harm. Consumers may not always be getting what they believe they’re paying for.”
The report evaluates 10 prominent food labeling programs, finding that certifications using the term “regenerative” vary dramatically in what they actually require—and some of the most rigorous standards meeting regenerative principles don’t use the term at all.