Simple Truth is a brand of organic food products sold exclusively at Kroger grocery stores. With the rising popularity of organic foods in recent years, many grocery shoppers have turned to Simple Truth as an affordable option for organic produce, dairy, meat and more. But is Simple Truth really organic as claimed? There are a few key factors to consider when evaluating the authenticity of Simple Truth’s organic certification.
Organic Regulations in the United States
In order for a food product to be labeled as organic in the United States, it must comply with regulations set forth by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). These regulations outline strict standards for how organic crops are grown and livestock are raised. Crops must be produced without the use of most conventional pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge or genetic engineering. Livestock must have access to the outdoors and cannot be treated with antibiotics or growth hormones. Food processors must avoid various food additives and preservatives and cannot process foods using irradiation or industrial solvents. Any farm or company producing and handling organic food must be certified organic by a USDA-accredited certifying agency. Annual on-site inspections verify that organic producers and handlers are following the USDA organic regulations.
Kroger’s Organic Certification
As required for all organic food brands, Simple Truth is certified organic by accredited USDA agents. Simple Truth products display the USDA organic seal, signaling that a certifying body has reviewed their practices and found them to be compliant with organic standards. Kroger, Simple Truth’s parent company, has organic certification through Quality Assurance International (QAI), a major organic certifier. During annual audits, QAI inspectors review Kroger’s policies, procedures, record-keeping, traceability, storage, cleaning processes and more at their facilities. This helps ensure Kroger is properly handling organic products and preventing contact with non-organic materials throughout harvest, transportation, processing and packaging.
Organic Milk and Dairy
One of the most popular Simple Truth organic products is their milk and dairy items. Here’s an overview of how their organic milk and dairy comply with USDA organic regulations:
Organic Dairy Cows
Cows producing Simple Truth organic milk must be raised according to organic standards from the last third of gestation. They must fed 100% organic feed and have access to pasture for grazing seasonally. Kroger requires BST hormone-free documentation for all conventionally raised cows providing organic milk. Cows cannot be treated with antibiotics, except in the case of illness, along with other restrictions on medications and vaccines.
Organic Feed
Cows’ feed must be certified organic and made without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or genetically engineered crops like corn, soy or alfalfa. During non-grazing season, cows may eat organic hay or silage but a minimum 30% of dry matter intake still needs to come from pasture during this time.
Milk Handling
The milking process and milk storage must avoid the use of chemical sanitizers or non-organic ingredients. Equipment that comes into contact with the organic milk is thoroughly cleaned between conventional and organic batches. All organic dairy products are kept strictly separate from non-organic.
Pest Management
Pest management strategies like releasing predator insects or trapping rodents are used in the dairy barns and surrounding areas instead of toxic pesticides.
Medications
If cows get sick and require medication, treated animals are removed from organic production. Their milk cannot be sold as organic until after a 90-day withdrawal period elapses or three times the medical treatment timeframe, whichever is longer.
Access to Pasture
Cows must graze on certified organic pastures for the entire grazing season, which averages around 120 days in most states. During this time, cows obtain a minimum 30% of their food from grazing. The rest comes from certified organic feed and stored grasses like hay.
Standard | Organic Requirement |
---|---|
Cows | Raised organic from last third of gestation. No antibiotics or hormones. |
Feed | 100% certified organic crops and grasses. |
Milking | No chemical sanitizers or non-organic ingredients. |
Pest control | Non-toxic methods only. |
Medications | Treated animals removed from organic herd. |
Pasture | Cows graze on organic pastures part of the year. |
This shows how Simple Truth organic dairy adheres to the USDA organic regulations at each stage of production. Conventional, non-organic practices are prohibited.
Organic Produce
Simple Truth also offers a wide selection of organic fruits, vegetables and herbs. Here are some key details on how their organic produce meets USDA organic standards:
Organic Seeds & Planting
Seeds and transplants must be certified organic. Exceptions can be made for some crops where organic seeds are not commercially available. Non-organic seeds cannot be treated with prohibited substances. Planting in soil fumigated with synthetic chemicals is prohibited.
Organic Crop Management
Natural methods are primarily used for fertilization, like compost, animal manure and cover crops. Weed management relies on mulching, hand weeding, mowing, and flame weeding instead of synthetic herbicides. Only approved natural pesticides can be applied for pest management if preventative methods are inadequate.
Organic Harvest & Storage
Harvest containers and storage facilities must be free of non-organic residue. Water used for washing cannot contain prohibited additives. Food-contact surfaces are thoroughly cleaned between organic and non-organic handling. Facilities should have protocols to prevent commingling.
Phase | Organic Requirements |
---|---|
Planting | Organic seeds. No synthetic soil fumigants. |
Growing | Natural fertilizers and pest control methods. |
Harvest & Handling | Avoid contamination from non-organic materials. |
Simple Truth produce goes through certified organic planting, growing and harvesting processes before being packaged for stores.
Inspections & Testing
In addition to the general USDA organic certification process, Simple Truth undergoes their own inspections and testing to verify adherence to organic practices and food safety standards:
Third Party Audit
Simple Truth facilities receive an annual third-party food safety audit. Auditors inspect for compliance with basic food safety practices related to employee hygiene, pest control, sanitation, supply chain management and more. This verifies safe food handling beyond just focusing on organic standards.
Pesticide Residue Testing
Simple Truth contracts with independent labs to test samples of their organic produce for pesticide residues. This checks for accidental exposure to prohibited substances during growing or handling. Testing results are available for customers to view on Simple Truth’s website.
Supplier Audits
In addition to organic certifier inspections, Simple Truth sends their own auditors to visit suppliers globally. They evaluate organic integrity, food safety, work conditions and more at supplier farms and facilities. This provides an extra layer of oversight for their supply chain partners.
Inspection/Test | Purpose |
---|---|
Third Party Audit | Verifies basic food safety and sanitation practices. |
Pesticide Residue Testing | Checks for accidental contamination with prohibited substances. |
Supplier Audits | Evaluates integrity of supply chain partners’ practices. |
Beyond just organic certification, these additional verifications help ensure Simple Truth products meet food safety and quality standards.
Potential Issues
While Simple Truth seems to make an effort towards authentic organic certification and practices, a few concerns have still been raised:
Imported Produce
Over 50% of Simple Truth’s organic produce is imported from other countries. Some people argue that imported organics are more prone to cutting corners or sneaking in non-organic ingredients during international shipping. Domestic produce is often presumed to be more accountable.
Product Mixing Risk
Since Kroger stores still sell many non-organic items, some argue there is an increased risk of accidental mixing of organic and conventional ingredients, especially processed foods and dairy products that use shared equipment. Proper cleaning and batch separation protocols must be rigorously followed.
High Volume & Low Prices
Simple Truth’s commitment to providing affordable organic products at high volumes also raises doubts for some shoppers. They wonder if lower prices signal a reduction in organic integrity, for example cutting costs by cramming dairy cows indoors instead of providing maximum outdoor access. However, Kroger maintains they achieve low costs through large-scale operations and efficient supply chains.
Issue | Concern |
---|---|
Imported Ingredients | Potentially higher risk of non-organic material mixing in. |
Shared Equipment | Must strictly separate organic and conventional batches. |
High Volume & Low Prices | Could signal cutting corners rather than efficiency. |
These are areas where shoppers feel there is greater vulnerability for failure to comply with organic standards.
Consumer Reviews
Despite some concerns, Simple Truth receives overwhelmingly positive reviews from most organic shoppers:
Flavor & Quality
Many customers comment that Simple Truth organic products taste just as good or better than pricier organic brands. Produce, eggs and dairy items in particular receive praise for freshness and flavor.
Affordability
The low prices are appreciated by shoppers on a budget who want to buy organic without breaking the bank. Simple Truth organic staples like produce, milk and cereal can cost 25-50% less than other USDA organic brands.
Wide Selection
The variety of organic products available under the Simple Truth brand allows customers to do most or all of their organic grocery shopping in one place. Unique options stand out, like organic grass-fed bison meat.
Trusted Certification
The USDA organic seal provides assurance to many customers that Simple Truth products meet national organic standards, despite the low costs. Third-party audits and residue testing offer further peace of mind.
Pro | Consumer Feedback |
---|---|
Quality | Fresh taste and texture praised. |
Affordability | Lower prices than many organic competitors. |
Selection | Broad assortment of organic products. |
Trusted Certification | USDA seal and third-party oversight valued. |
The consensus among most shoppers is that Simple Truth delivers tasty, affordable organic options they can trust.
The Verdict
When weighing all the evidence, Simple Truth seems to make a genuine effort at meeting USDA organic standards and providing authentic organic products to customers. While skepticism exists around large-scale organic farming, Kroger’s certification, auditing and testing procedures aim to uphold organic integrity through their supply chain. The reasonable prices likely stem more from bulk-buying power than cutting corners on organic protocols. Overall, Simple Truth appears to deliver good quality, value-priced organic food backed by trusted certifications. Shoppers can feel confident they are getting legitimate organic products, especially produce, dairy and shelf-stable items. Some caution may be warranted around highly processed goods, imported ingredients or meat/seafood due to supply chain complexities. But for core grocery staples like organic milk, eggs, fruits and veggies, Simple Truth is likely a sound choice for affordable USDA certified organics.