What makes virgin coco oil organic?

There are misconceptions that all virgin coco oils are organic because it is unrefined coco oil – it does not go through refining, bleaching, or deodorizing.  But organic does not only mean it does not go industrial process.  There are virgin coconut oils which do not come from coconut fruits of naturally grown trees. They can be labeled as organic to some extent as shown in the following paragraph.

Organic generally refers to food products that are made, raised, or grown without the use of artificial fertilizers, solvents, chemical pesticides, and others.  They can be referred to as (according to US Department of Agriculture):

•    100% organic – when all ingredients and processes the product undergoes are natural.
•    Organic – when at least 95% of the contents are organic
•    Made from organic ingredients – when it is made from at least 70% organic ingredients.  Those that contain less than 70% organic content do not pass the organic label

If you do not see any seal that certifies the authenticity of the product being organic, then look for others that bear the seal from certifiers like USDA (and its counterparts in other countries).

What are the implications of virgin organic coconut oil with these labels or seals?

As far as USDA is concerned, they only grant the seal to verify that a product is organically made.  USDA made it clear that the certification does not necessarily mean they are of superior quality than non-organic products.  The certification only aims to protect the consumers from being deceived by organic scammers who claim their goods are pure organic virgin coconut oils when they may actually contain artificial ingredients and/or preservatives.

There is also no proof yet that organic foods have higher nutritional value and better taste than those coming from conventional agriculture.  Even the belief that conventional farming could harm the environment is something that is not yet proven according to studies.

If you want to purchase real organic coconut oil, make sure that they have certifications or seals (from certifiers and not just from the company itself). When you buy virgin coconut oil, read and understand product labels well to be assured of the quality that you are looking for.

Related articles:

Extra virgin coconut oil – Learn what extra virgin coconut oil is and what makes it different from the coco oils without the “extra” description.  Find out that this label on some coco oil brands may just be propaganda.

Cold pressed coconut oil – Discover what is cold pressed coconut oil and whether this has some other better health benefits than the other types of coco oil.  Learn the steps on how to make this kind of oil.