It's Latin, for to cleanse or purify.
Anybody who's wondering what all those labels mean on products in the grocery store and packaged goods. Anybody who wants to learn more about the products they are eating, using and their effect on the world.
We feel that a certification logo fits within the definition of a label which is a written or printed matter accompanying an article to furnish identification or other information. .
For simplicity, certification "labels" refers to all ecolabels, ecologos, logos, logo marks, marks, icons, seals, certifications and badges.
It can mean several things: 1. It isn't in our database. Maybe it's a brand new label, or a new version of an old label. It could be a very old label. 2. It is in our database, but the artifical intelligence software can't identify it or misidentified it. Try taking the picture again or using the app search function. If you know of a label that you think should be in our database, please let us know.
Certifications are inspected and backed by third-party organizations and governments. Please refer to each individual category section for more information about requirements in each country. Companies and organizations may create their own marketing claims, slogans and sometimes, certifications. These may or may not have third party oversight.
To us, certified and verified mean the same thing. For simplicity, we use the term certified. Third-party authenticated means that an independent organization, usually a company or government agency, has performed all required inspections and testing to make sure a product meets their standards.
Labels all have different standards. Standards can include different provisions for quality, purity, production techniques, ethical standards, environmental standards and more.
It's acceptable, and there are a few possible reasons: 1. The certification was obtained after the product package was printed. The manufacturer applied the sticker later to note their new certification. 2. The product was taken from a larger, certified supply and put into new packaging. When in doubt, we recommend checking with the manufacturer, certifier or service counter for confirmation.
A restaurant can have its entire menu certified or use certified ingredients. Some restaurants list individual menu items as Gluten Free, Sustainable Seafood, Kosher, Halal, Plant Based, etc. If a restaurant has been certified, their certificate should be posted. If an individual menu item has been advertised as certified or notes a marketing claim, additional information should be available upon request.
A product at a deli counter (such as fish or meat) can be certified. The store associate should have more information upon request.
In the context of certification labels, "free" means below limits set by governments and certifiers. These organizations dictate how much of a substance can be permitted in a product, which is then tested. For example, laboratory tests to determine that a product is gluten-free analyze foods for the presence of gluten. If the agreed limit is 20 parts per million, and the test records 3 parts per million, it can be labelled gluten free.
Cluō's information is independently researched from publicly available websites, news articles, government resources and other sources.
We are open to suggestions, if you think something is incorrect or unclear. Please contact us and provide supporting documentation for any change requests.
Our use of trademarks, logos and other marks is for informational purposes only. We do not intend to suggest that the companies and persons who may own such trademarks, logos and other marks have authorized our use of those marks. Our use of these marks and our comments is based on our research and evidence. Where possible we have provided our source of the mark. If you believe that any use or comment of a mark belonging to you should be altered or removed, please contact us.
Our founders saw that there was an unmet need for better information about the certification labels and marketing claims on packaged food products. Several members of our team had health problems that required dietary changes and needed to understand how to read food labeling. They were very frustrated with the lack of information available in the North American market and knew there had to be an easier way.
Cluō is funded by generous partners, donors and those who support our mission. Cluō's app and website are free to use. There are no membership charges. There are no ads. Please visit the Cluo Store if you wish to contribute and keep this app free.
