Organic, desi or natural? What food labels in Pakistan really mean

More families in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad are looking for cleaner food, and brands know it. But words on a pack are only useful if you know what they promise, and what they don't.

Strictly, organic means grown without synthetic pesticides and fertilisers, usually checked by a certification body. Certified organic food is still rare in Pakistan, and many products called organic aren't certified.

At Zareen Farms we're building towards an organic range. Until it's certified, we don't call our products organic; we tell you exactly how they're grown instead.

Desi means native or traditional: desi hens instead of commercial hybrids, desi ghee slow-cooked from butter, chakki atta ground on stones. It describes the breed, the method and the taste, which is why desi products cost more to make.

Natural and pure have no legal definition, so they mean whatever the seller wants. Look for specifics instead: "no added sugar", "no vanaspati", "no added colour", "cold-pressed", "unheated".

Free-range means animals can go outdoors. Our desi and Golden Misri hens roam outdoors by day in fenced, rotated runs, and sleep safely indoors at night.

1. 1Ask where it comes from. A good seller can name the farm or maker.
2. 2Look for specific promises, not vague words.
3. 3Use simple home tests for ghee, honey, haldi and shilajit (we explain them in our guides).
4. 4Buy from people who grow food themselves and stand behind every batch.