Label-Madness

So, you're at the store trying to decide between a cleaner that is biodegradable and one that is all natural. Which one is better for the environment? What do those eco-friendly labels actually mean?
Sadly, many of these so-called eco-labels mean relatively little. A lot of the labels that can be put on food, cleaning products and personal care products are not regulated whatsoever, which means that you are simply taking the manufacturer's word as the truth. And when we are living in a "green-is-in" society, manufacturers know that they can squeeze more money out of a product that is labeled as environmentally friendly.
For example, meats labeled as "natural" can still contain artificial ingredients. "Free-range" animals often never go outdoors. Something labeled as "biodegradable" is not regulated as such and so there is a good chance it is not. If it is "certified biodegradable" however, that means it is a product that you can trust.
So what does all of this mean? First off, I personally think it means that the FDA is not doing that great of a job in protecting the American people and the world we inhabit. Labels should be enforced and customers should be able to know exactly what they are buying. But, until then, it is up to us, as consumers, to be informed on what we purchase, consume, and put down our drains. Check out the Greener Choices website on eco-labels where you can check what every label actually means, how it is regulated, and how likely that claim is to be true!