"Natural" foods {don't be fooled}

The word Natural on a package really doesn't mean a damn thing.  Depressing I know. This was something I was shocked to hear when I began clean eating.  You want to trust if something says "natural" that it means it's all "natural" and good for you. It just isn't going to be that easy folks. 

Natural has no regulatory meaning.  The FDA merely says (note obfuscating double negatives):

From a food science perspective, 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.

That said, FDA has not developed a definition for use of the term natural or its derivatives. However, the agency has not objected to the use of the term if the food does not contain added color, artificial flavors, or synthetic substances. (source)

Who can use "Natural"??? Anyone can put the term “natural” (or “all natural”) on most foods, since the Food and Drug Administration has no formal definition of the term and doesn’t regulate it or really police it. So far, according to the agency, it has “not objected to the use of the term if the food does not contain added color, artificial flavors or synthetic substances.” The one exception: meats and poultry, which are regulated by a different organization, the US Department of Agriculture. (source)

And then, there are those people that sue over the misuse of the word "natural" on foods. Read more here: Natural on Food Labels 

I think we have a bigger issue here than the word "natural" being misused. I think the big issue is making it a law to have all GMO foods labeled. All food information available for everyone if they desire to read it. Will this ever happen in my lifetime? I will remain hopeful.