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Can I use an OMRI NOP listing to verify GE status under COR?
By Tessa Barker
Review Program staff are often asked if products that are OMRI Listed® under the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) standards would be allowed for use in products applying for OMRI listing under the Canada Organic Regime (COR). Because these ruling bodies are independent, they have different requirements. A listing under the standards of one ruling body does not automatically translate to a listing under another. One specific way in which COR...
What extraction processes and carriers are prohibited and allowed for use in flavors used in organic processing?
Organic standards have additional requirements for flavors beyond what are considered natural flavors used in conventional foods. To begin with, some ingredients that are identified as “natural flavors” are in fact “nature identical” substances that are synthetic, such as ethyl citrate. These are not the same as true nonsynthetic flavors.
Natural flavors may contain synthetic solvents, carriers and...
What is EDDI, and why is it used? Can it be used as a feed additive for organic cows?
EDDI stands for ethylenediamine dihydriodide, a synthetic feed additive. EDDI is also used for therapeutic purposes and administered subtherapeutically for the claimed prevention of certain diseases. Because it is Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) in small doses by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and because the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) refers to EDDI as an nutritional source of iodine, OMRI recognizes...
What is sugar (beet) lime, how is it made, and why is it prohibited for use in USDA organic crop production?
Beet sugar refineries typically operate on-site limekilns that burn limestone to produce calcium oxide—also known as burned lime or quick lime. In addition to calcium oxide, carbon dioxide is also produced. Both calcium oxide and carbon dioxide are used in sugar refining processes, and the chemical reaction can be written as follows:
CaCO3 + heat → CaO + CO2
Cane sugar refining...
Can a non-organic carrier, not present on the PSL, be used with a non-organic enzyme to make cheese?
By Cesar Cartagena
Organic cheese production is a complex process involving specific inoculations of microbes and enzymes at several stages. These additions...
What forms of irradiation are prohibited in organic production?
Different kinds of radiation have a variety of functions and purposes. For example, governments may use gamma irradiation to perform non-invasive searches of containers crossing their countries’ borders. X-rays are another commonly used method of inspection. Microwaves used in food preparation emit microwave radiation. Are these methods considered “ionizing radiation,” and therefore prohibited under the USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) regulations for...
The National Organic Program regulations states at §205.237(b)(6) that "the producer of an organic [livestock] operation must not: use feed, feed additives, and feed supplements in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act)." How can organic livestock operators avoid violating this act in their organic livestock feed practices?
The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FD&CA) of 1938 was passed after an untested pharmaceutical killed 107 people, including children. Among many provisions, the law...
Are charcoal, ash or biochar allowed as soil amendments in USDA organic farming?
By Brian Baker
The terms “charcoal,” “ash” and “biochar” are often used interchangeably, especially within the context of material review. The answer to whether these materials are allowed in USDA organic production depends on how they’re made. If these materials are produced by burning plants or animal materials (e.g., bones), they are permitted as a soil amendment on organic farms.
Charcoal, ash and biochar produced by burning...
Is it possible to make organic food colors from organically produced crops?
By Brian Baker
Yes. A number of common fruits and vegetables are used to add color to various foods. These include beets, blueberries, radishes, pumpkins, carrots, grapes and cabbage. In addition, some more exotic crops such as annatto, aronia, hibiscus, turmeric and saffron are also used, sometimes grown specifically for use as a coloring agent.
Organic producers and handlers should be aware that there are technical requirements in...
How does OMRI review homeopathic treatments for livestock under the COR standards, and how does this differ from NOP review?
By Phoebe Judge
Homeopathy is a medical approach often used in biodynamic farming. Homeopathic treatments can be diluted botanical tinctures that producers use to treat symptoms ranging from skin problems to respiratory discomfort. Homeopathy and biodynamic production may be compatible with both USDA and Canadian organic production, and farms must meet organic standards before they can be...
