Organic food is also called ecological or biological food. Organic food is a relatively unified formulation of pollution-free natural food in the world. Organic food usually comes from organic agricultural production system and is produced and processed according to international organic agricultural production requirements and corresponding standards. In addition to organic food, some derivative products provided by organic food production, such as organic cosmetics, textiles, forest products or means of production, including biological pesticides and organic fertilizers, are collectively referred to as organic products after certification. Organic food is a kind of organic products, and organic products also include "non-food" such as cotton, hemp, bamboo, clothing, cosmetics and feed (organic standards include animal feed). Organic products in China mainly include grain, vegetables, fruits, livestock and poultry products (including milk, eggs, meat and related processed products), aquatic products and condiments.

The main characteristics of organic food come from the eco-organic agricultural production system. The production and processing of organic food do not use synthetic substances such as chemical pesticides, fertilizers and chemical preservatives, nor do they use genetically modified organisms and their products. Therefore, organic food is a kind of ecological food which really comes from nature, is nutritious, safe and environmentally friendly.

Organic food has different names in different languages. The most common name abroad is organic food, which is also called ecological food and natural food in other languages. CODEX of FAO and the World Health Organization (FAO/ WHO) collectively refers to such foods with different names but basically the same connotation as organic foods.