By Melissa Shin

Grocery shopping today is an overwhelming task. Thousands of products beckon from the shelves. Every week the media trumpets a new health or environmental concern—and you want to buy good products at reasonable prices. So how does the eco-conscious consumer cut through the greenwash? Luckily, there are a variety of certifications and designations that can help guide you to the healthiest, most environmentally and socially responsible products available.

Opting for organic

Finding organic foods just got easier: as of June 30, 2009, all certified-organic products in Canada must adhere to the Canadian Organic Standards (COS), wwhich allows them to display the Canada Organic Logo. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs), using synthetic pesticides, and exposing a product to radiation are not permitted under these standards.

If you’re on a budget, it may not always be possible to buy organic. However, there are certain produce items that are typically exposed to high amounts of pesticide (see inset), so buy organic varieties of these fruits and vegetables when you can. Pesticides have been linked to toxic effects on the nervous and hormone systems, and have been known to be carcinogenic and cause skin, eye, and lung irritation.

What’s wrong with GMOs?

While biotechnology has improved plant productivity and crop quality, groups such as Friends of the Earth argue that GMOs threaten food safety and security. Strains of GMOs unapproved for human consumption can become accidentally mixed with the human food supply, and the modification of some crops to improve their resistance to herbicides has given rise to a rapidly growing population of herbicide-resistant weeds, which has led to more herbicide use.

Meaty decisions

It’s well-documented that eating less meat is better for your health, wallet, and the environment: globally, more greenhouse gas emissions come from meat production than from transportation. Most grocery stores now offer meat alternatives such as tofu and veggie burgers, and chains like Whole Foods and Planet Organic stock vegan products.

But when you choose to consume meat, buying organic meat, dairy, and eggs means eliminating potentially harmful additives from your diet. According to the Canadian Organic Standards (COS), organically raised livestock contains no synthetic growth regulators or hormones. Farmers must also accommodate the health and natural behaviour of all animals by using techniques such as free range or free run (meaning that the little critters are not boxed up in some tight cage). Many supermarket chains are starting to offer free-run eggs and organic dairy as a matter of course, but organic meat is more rare. Speak to your supermarket’s butcher to register your interest.

While the COS doesn’t include provisions for aquaculture, sustainable fish can be identified by the Marine Stewardship Council mark; some fish can also self-identify as organically raised. The Loblaw chain has introduced MSC-certified fish into some of its President’s Choice products. You can also download sustainable seafood guide cards or even applications for your iPhone at www.seachoice.org, a resource put together by the David Suzuki Foundation and other environmental groups.

Finding Fair Trade

Fair Trade seeks to ensure that farmers and artisans behind various products get a better deal than they would through conventional trade, which often marginalizes the poorest people in the world. Choosing Fair Trade-certified products means that you ensure better prices for producers, as well as longer-term and more supportive trading relationships. Typical products that have a Fair Trade option include coffee, chocolate, tea, cotton (in clothing), and flowers, but can also include sugar, fruit, grains, herbs, spices, and wine. Most supermarkets stock at least one Fair Trade-certified coffee brand such as Kicking Horse Coffee. Loblaw chain stores have their own private-label Fair Trade coffee, and we’ve also spotted Fair Trade flowers at Metro.

You can identify Fair Trade products by the Fair Trade Certified mark, administered by TransFair Canada, a member of Fair Trade Labeling Organizations International.

For more info, go to http://transfair.ca.

Looking to local

With the “100-mile diet”—eating foods produced within 100 miles—firmly entrenched in popular vernacular, the local food movement is clearly gaining ground. The benefits of local food include lower carbon emissions and fresher products due to less distance travelled from farm to plate, as well as more economically vibrant regional farms. Most supermarkets state produce origin on price signage, and some stores, including the Loblaw chain, make it a point to highlight local and Ontario-grown produce.

This isn’t as common for meat, dairy, and other foods, but speaking to your store’s manager can help make it happen.

A healthy home

Traditional household cleaners contain petrochemicals, bleaches, and fragrances that can cause respiratory problems and skin and eye irritation, so making a change can help you breathe easier. Check so-called “green” products to see if they are non-toxic, fragrance-free, biodegradable, and petrochemical-free, and whether they are packaged in recyclable material or tested on animals. Reputable eco-friendly brands include Ecover, Bio-Vert, Attitude, Nature Clean and Seventh Generation. You can also make your own cleaners from baking soda, salt, white vinegar, lemon juice, and borax—look for recipes online.

Melissa Shin is the Managing Editor of Corporate Knights Magazine, the Canadian magazine for responsible business.

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