All Natural Legal Definition

By Amy E. Feldman

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Food labeling regulations, naturally. A class action lawsuit was just filed against John WM Macy Cheese Sticks and its line of 'upscale bar snacks' for deceiving the public.

While most people would consider it actually upscale if the peanuts in the bowl hadn't been handled by many sets of unwashed hands, the plaintiffs objected to the use of the term "all natural" on the package.

According to the lawsuit, the products contain, among other things, niacin, reduced iron, and folic acid. Which sounds kinda healthy. 

So other than how we colloquially define all natural—tastes gross, costs more—what is the legal definition?  

According the FDA, it is difficult to define a food product that is 'natural' because the food has probably been processed and is no longer the product of the earth so there's isn't a legal definition.

It's a marketing term that the FDA says is ok to use on a label provided the product doesn't contain added color, artificial flavors, or synthetic substances, which are defined as additives that aren't derived from fruits, veggies, spices, bark (which is often what it tastes like) or other plant- egg- or meat-based foods.

But remember that, like added niacin, just because it isn't natural doesn't mean it isn't healthy. I'll take my cheese sticks over the all natural, pre-licked bar peanuts—or healthy tree bark—any day.