Final answer:
The symbol O-U on a food label stands for the Orthodox Union, indicating that the product is kosher. It is unrelated to organic or unpasteurized food standards, which are regulated by the USDA and involve environmental and sustainable production methods.
Step-by-step explanation:
The symbol O-U on a food label indicates the product is certified as kosher by the Orthodox Union. This certification means that the product complies with the strict dietary standards of traditional Jewish law. It is not related to organic or unpasteurized food standards, which are regulated in the U.S. by the USDA. Organic foods are those that have been produced using specific methods that are considered environmentally friendly and sustainable, such as avoiding most synthetic chemical substances like pesticides and fertilizers, particularly because of their potential harm to human health and their negative effects on ecosystems, such as bee populations.
Organic foods are typically more expensive due to the more labor-intensive agricultural practices required to meet USDA's organic certification standards. As the organic food market has grown rapidly since 2000, many countries have established formal, government-regulated certification procedures to ensure that products labeled as organic meet their specific requirements.