Unpacking the Mystery of 'Ethical' Food Labels

I wrote in my blog ‘Earth is a mess, y'all: Putting Faith Into Action Isn’t Always Easy’ about the ethical minefield that often surrounds decisions that are seemingly as simple as buying a tomato. I don’t know about anyone else, but one of the things I find most difficult when trying to make an appropriate ethical choice is that even the tools that are supposed to help me make a good decisions can lead to more confusion. This is particularly true when it comes to food labels and certification. After all, is it better to buy products that are Fairtrade or Rainforest Alliance? What do those labels mean? And what about Cadbury’s decision to swap its Fairtrade certification for its own Cocoa Life award?

Here at SCM we decided this Fairtrade Fortnight to do what we can to make it that little bit easier – with our very own guide to food labels and certification logos!

This is by no means an overview of all the food labels and certification you might come across, but it is a guide to those you are most likely to encounter. However, do let us know if you have any questions about a food label not included in this list and we will do our best to answer them for you!

Fairtrade Fairtrade Logo

Who accredits it?

The Fairtrade Foundation

What does it apply to?

Everything from flowers to coffee, wine to clothing.

What are the requirements?

For products to be able to use the Fairtrade logo they must meet economic, environmental and social standards that are regularly and independently inspected. For farms to be certified as Fairtrade they must not use child or forced labour, showcase fair working conditions, and comply with certain environmental criteria such as negligible pesticide use and responsible water use. When you buy products carrying the Fairtrade logo you can rest assured that the producers and farmers involved in the process were paid a Fairtrade Minimum Price to cover the costs associated with production.

Anything else to know?

A Fairtrade Premium is paid to the growers cooperation, so that financial investments can be put into business and community projects. The growers cooperation choose how the Fairtrade Premium money is spent, though this has raised some criticism that the finances do not always go where they money is most needed.

Rainforest Alliance Rainforest Alliance Logo

Who accredits it?

The Rainforest Alliance

What does it apply to?

Hundreds of products, from coffee and tea to chocolate and bananas.

What are the requirements?

For products to be Rainforest Alliance certified, those involved in the growing and production must ensure several sustainable agriculture principles are met and that a farm's natural biodiversity is protected. This includes reducing the use of pesticides, acting to conserve wildlife and water resources, avoiding deforestation and limiting soil erosion. Furthermore, farms are expected to treat their workers fairly and to avoid child labour.

Anything else to know?

Unlike the Fairtrade certificate, producers and farmers are not provided with a guaranteed minimum price for their product. Instead they are given tools and skills training to help improve their practices and productivity, with the intention that this will help them access more profitable markets. One of the main concerns about the Rainforest Alliance label is that only 30% of the ingredients used within a product need to be certified for the product to carry the label.

Cocoa Life Cocoa Life logo

Who accredits it?

Mondelēz International

What does it apply to?

Products owned by the company Mondelēz International, including Cadbury, Daim, Milka, and Green and Black’s.

What are the requirements?

The Cocoa Life logo represents Mondelēz’s own sustainability scheme, which focuses on providing farmers with training in order to help them implement good farming practices. This includes practices that protect the natural environment, increase crops and lead to higher incomes for growers. The Cocoa Life scheme also represents a commitment to ending child labour and ensuring workers have a safe and empowering work environment.

Anything else to know?

In order to deliver the Cocoa Life scheme, Mondelēz International partner with a number of large International Development NGOs, such as Care International, Save the Children, VSO and World Vision. Additionally, while Mondelēz International products no longer carry the Fairtrade accreditation, they continue to work in partnership with the Fairtrade Foundation, which sits on the board of Cocoa Life.

Cocoa Plan Cocoa Plan logo

Who accredits it?

Nestlé

What does it apply to?

Nestlé products such as KitKats, Milkybars and Nesquik.

What are the requirements?

Much like Cocoa Life is Mondelēz International’s own suitability scheme, Cocoa Plan is Nestlé’s own scheme. The aim is to provide farmers with cocoa trees that generate a better yield, thereby increasing their profits. Moreover, the scheme also trains cocoa growers how to farm the land sustainably. The Cocoa Life scheme likewise makes a commitment to empowering women within the supply chain, eliminating child labour, and improving the overall transparency in the supply chain.

Anything else to know?

To deliver the Cocoa Life scheme, Nestlé partner with the International Cocoa Initiative, Fair Labor Association, Rainforest Alliance Certified Cocoa and the Jacobs Foundation.

Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) Certified Palm Oil Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil logo

Who accredits it?

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)

What does it apply to?

Food products such as Whole Earth peanut butter and Jordan’s Cereal.

What are the requirements?

The RSPO accreditation is the world’s largest palm oil standard, providing certification to products that use sustainable palm oil, the production of which does not cause harm to people and the environment. The ethos of RSPO is that boycotting palm oil, or replacing it with other oils, is not a sustainable long term solution and may actually cause more harm than good, since lower-yield crops could have more harmful environmental impacts. As such, they champion more environmentally friendly crop production.

Anything else to know?

Several environmental organisations are members of RSPO, including the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation, Sumatran Orangutan Society, the international branch of WFF and several national branches, including those with direct experience of deforestation due to palm oil such as WWF Indonesia. However, despite this, there are several concerns with the scheme, with it facing accusations such as its certification of plantations that use child labour, corporate greenwashing, inadequate audit measures, and its sluggish response in penalising those members that break the rules.

Red Tractor MarkRed Tractor

Who accredits it?

Red Tractor

What does it apply to?

The red tractor mark can be found on any food or drink products that are produced by UK farms, including products as diverse as vegetables, flour, or even beer.  

What are the requirements?

The mark can only be used on items that have not only been produced in the UK, but have also been packed, stored and transported here too. The mark also covers animal welfare, environmental protection, and food safety.

Anything else to know?

Choosing products with the Red Tractor mark is a great way to reduce the airmiles and carbon footprint involved in your shopping. However, there are concerns about the infrequency and inadequacy of inspections, and there are also several farms that have been accredited and have gone on to be found guilty of animal cruelty.

LEAF MarqueLEAF Mark

Who accredits it?

Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF)

What does it apply to?

The LEAF marque can be found on products that are farmed, including flowers, plants, grain, meat, dairy, and vegetables.

What are the requirements?

It is the global system used for recognising sustainable farming practices, meaning that products carrying the LEAF logo have been produced using sustainable farming standards. These include ensuring water efficiency, protecting and managing soil quality, correct management of waste and by-products, and protecting biodiversity and conserving natural habitats.

Anything else to know?

Overall, the LEAF system aims to support farmers in delivering a commitment to protect their land, livestock, natural environment and local community.

Organic Famers & Growers (OF&G) Organic Farmers and Growers logo

Who accredits it?

Organic Famers & Growers (OF&G)

What does it apply to?

The label can be found across all food categories, particularly meat and dairy. OF&G is the UK’s second-largest organic certification body.

What are the requirements? 

In order to certify a product as being organic, OF&G will request that farmed products meet certain strict criteria. Livestock will need spend a significant portion of their life outside and must be free of hormones and other drugs. Furthermore, the use of pesticides must be severely restricted and artificial chemical fertilisers must not be used.

Anything else to know?

Certified organic products have many benefits, not least of all the fact that a reduction in chemical toxins promotes wildlife health; organic farming techniques are more climate friendly; organic methods of production are better for the soil and lead to improved land quality; and animal welfare is a priority.

Soil Association Organic Soil Association logo

Who accredits it?

The Soil Association

What does it apply to?

The Soil Association accreditation can be found across all food categories, particularly meat and dairy.

What are the requirements?

The Soil Association is the UK’s biggest organic accreditation body in the UK and, like OF&G, it expects that farmed products meet the same strict criteria.

RSPCA Assured RSPCA assured logo

Who accredits it?

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA)

What does it apply to?

The RSPCA Assured label can be found on products that have come from farm animals. Overall, it covers 11 species of animal, including Turkey and Salmon.

What are the requirements?

If a product carries the label it means that consumers can be assured that the product has come from animals that have be inspected and found to have met the RSPCA’s standards for animal welfare. These include ensuring that animals are not caged and have adequate living space that is mentally and physically stimulating, that antibiotics are only used if an animal is sick or injured, and that they are transported and slaughtered humanely. 

Anything else to know?

The RSPCA Assured label covers everything from indoor and free-range farms, to organic and non-organic, and it is completely independent of the food and farming industry.

Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) CertfiedAquaculture certified logo

Who accredits it?

The World Wide Fund for Nature and the Dutch Sustainable Trade Initiative

What does it apply to?

Its certification can currently be seen on 17 species of farmed fish, including salmon, shrimp and scallops.

What are the requirements?

The aim of the certification process is to ensure that the impact of farmed fishing is minimal, both in terms of the environmental and social impacts, and to ensure that fish are being farmed responsibly and sustainably.

Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Standard marine stewardship council certified

Who accredits it?

Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)

What does it apply to?

The logo can be found on any wild fish or seafood from fisheries that have been certified as meeting the MSC Fisheries standard.

What are the requirements?

In order to meet this standard the fisheries must be able to show that their fishing methods are sustainable, act to prevent overfishing, and not use methods that harm other marine species.

Anything else to know?

The label does not cover animal welfare issues or how fish are treated upon capture.

Vegetarian Society Approved Vegetarian Society approved logo

Who accredits it?

The Vegetarian Society

What does it apply to?

The Vegetarian Society Approved logo can be seen on a wide variety of meat alternatives.

What are the requirements?

The logo assures consumers that there are absolutely no ingredients used in the product that are the result of the slaughter of an animal. It also provides assurances that when meat related products (such as eggs) are used these are free-range and that no animal testing has been carried out. The Vegetarian Society have also launched a Vegan Approved logo and this provides assurances that the product is free from any product or ingredients derived from animals.

Vegan Society Approved 

Who accredits it?

The Vegan Society

What does it apply to?

The Vegan Society logo, much like the Vegetarian Society Approved logo, can be found on several meat and dairy product alternatives.

What are the requirements?

The logo carries assurances that no animal products can be found in the product, nor have any animals been tested on.

Anything else to know?

The Vegan Society defines animals as all invertebrates.

Round Table Responsible Soy (RTRS) Round Table Responsible Soy logo

Who accredits it?

The Round Table for Responsible Soy (RTRS)

What does it apply to?

It can be found across Quorn and Cauldron products.

What are the requirements?

The label was introduced to address concerns regarding the rise in demand for soya, as production has increased dramatically over the past ten-years resulting in the destruction of Brazilian forests and natural habitats. The RTRS certification scheme acts to support appropriate agricultural practices, protect local environments and provide fair labour conditions.