OSU Community Health Extension Program

Oklahoma Lands Historic Funding to Reimagine Rural Health Care OKLAHOMA CITY (December 29, 2025) – Oklahoma has officially secured approximately $223.5 million for the first year of a five-year grant through the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program, part of an historic $50 billion federal investment authorized by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. This awar...

Created by Ty Gregson MS, Assistant Extension Specialist and Danyelle Kuss LMFT, Cope-Able was developed with the intention to be educational. There is strategy to win the game as you work together. However, the content on the cards and the conversations together provide participants great opportunities to learn and discuss principles of mental health. Learn more at https://www.cope-able.com

Understanding Food Marketing Terms
Each year brings a host of new food products and trendy terms and claims. Learning about common food marketing terms can help you make healthier choice.

Natural: The FDA regulates many health claims on food labels but does not have an official definition for the term "natural." It generally considers "natural" to mean no artificial or synthetic ingredients, including color additives, are present. However, this definition doesn’t cover food processing methods or pesticide use. The USDA allows the term "natural" in flavor labeling, but such ingredients must still meet FDA rules, and animal-derived ingredients must be clearly disclosed—not labeled simply as "natural flavoring."

Processed, unprocessed and ultra-processed: The terms "processed" and "unprocessed" are often misunderstood. People commonly associate "processed" with unhealthy foods, but this usually refers to "ultra-processed" items like chips, desserts, and convenience foods that contain added sugar and salt. In reality, many healthy foods are also processed, such as shelled nuts, tofu, and frozen vegetables. Even basic steps like washing and chopping count as processing.

Local: The local food movement encourages buying food grown near where you live, promoting environmental sustainability and supporting the local economy. However, the definition of "local" can vary, as there’s no universally agreed-upon distance.

Whole: There is no official definition for "whole foods," but the term typically refers to minimally processed foods without added ingredients. This includes fresh produce, whole grains, meat, and fish—essentially, foods that remain close to their natural form.

Organic: Among all these terms, "organic" has the most specific legal definition. According to the USDA, organic animal products come from animals not given antibiotics or growth hormones, while organic crops are grown without most synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, bioengineering, or radiation. Farms and food processors must be inspected and certified to ensure they meet USDA organic standards.

There are three levels of organic claims for food:
1. 100% Organic: Products that are completely organic or made of only organic ingredients qualify for this claim and a USDA Organic seal.
2. Organic: Products in which at least 95% of its ingredients are organic qualify for this claim and a USDA Organic seal.
3. Made with Organic Ingredients: These are food products in which at least 70% of ingredients are certified organic. The USDA organic seal cannot be used but "made with organic ingredients" may appear on its packaging.
https://www.eatright.org/health/wellness/nutrition-panels-and-food-labels/understanding-food-marketing-terms

OSU Agriculture partners with nonprofit to fight food insecurity - Oklahoma State University Sophia Darrow, an OSU horticulture graduate student, is conducting surveys centered around the barriers grocery stores face with the goal of connecting the fields of horticulture, nutrition and business together to create awareness for people in the food industry and adjacent fields.