All kinds of new words are popping up on labels and menus to convince you that your food is not just a hormone-riddled, pesticide-laced, antibiotic-pumped piece of cardboard. Here’s what they mean, but remember: as there is no authority controlling the use of these words here in Thailand, trust them at your own risk.
Cage-Free/Free-Range
Cage-free eggs are the products of chicken that are allowed to roam in barnyards without the confinement of cages. The meat of such animals can also be claimed to be free-range. Chicken raised in these conditions are less likely to succumb to illness, thus decreasing the use of antibiotics. Speculation in the scientific community links antibiotic use in livestock with an increased antibiotic resistance in humans.
Fair Trade
A certification process designed for consumers to be able to identify products manufactured according to agreed environment, labor and developmental standards. In short, the farmer gets shafted a bit less than usual. Common “fair trade” products include coffee, tea, rice and produce.
Hydroponics
The method of growing plants in a composite of mineral nutrients, instead of soil. These crops can be packaged and sold while still alive, thus maximizing freshness. Furtheremore, the absence of soil reduces the need for pesticides and other harmful chemicals. But hydroponics cultivation is difficult and more expensive than traditional farming due to the sensitive and controlled environment that is required. It also produces vegetables that some say have no taste whatsoever.
Line-caught
Just like those fish people catch in the khlong. This fishing method is considered sustainable, and not as endangering as commercial monster-net techniques that destroy ocean floors and kill a whole bunch of critters that don’t even get eaten.
Macrobiotic
A macrobiotic diet aims to keep you healthy, of course, but also help you reach a state of well being. It focuses on quality, locally grown, unprocessed and natural food, in particular cereal grains, beans, brown rice, fruits and greens, as well as tofu. Refined rice, white bread and red meat are not on the menu!
Natural
A product labeled “natural” must contain no artificial ingredients or added colors.
Organic
Food that has been raised and harvested according to specific farming practices that virtually exclude the use of synthetic chemicals and prohibit the use of antibiotics and hormones in livestock production. That requires a lot of regulations and inspections—Thailand has neither. Besides, some people argue that food grown within regular norms is plenty safe already and that organic is just pure marketing.
Slow food
A movement to promote local cuisine made with seasonal ingredients as opposed to the stuff served at evil fast food chains. The Slow Food Organization was founded in 1986 in Italy and now counts 80,000 members in over 100 countries acting locally to prevent hamburgers from taking over the world.
Sustainable Seafood
Product of a fishery that maintains fishing practices that do not reduce the target species’ ability to maintain a stable population.
Vegan
While vegetarians don’t eat meat, fish and poultry, vegans take it one step further by abstaining from all animal products and by-products such as eggs, honey, milk, cheese. (They don’t wear leather or fur either). For a healthy varied diet, vegans rely on fruits, veggies, whole grain products and nuts.
