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Can nonorganic yeast be used in organic processing?
By Corinne Kolm
Nonorganic yeast may be used in organic processing under certain conditions. In October 2012, the National Organic Program (NOP) rules for the use of yeast in processed goods changed to include a commercial availability clause when the yeast is used in a product for human consumption. This change means that organic yeast must be used in human food products unless organic yeast is not “commercially available,” defined as “the ability to obtain a...
I see maltodextrin on the ingredient lists of various livestock feed additives. What is maltodextrin and is this material allowed for organic production?
By Sam Schaefer-Joel
Maltodextrin molecules are composed of short chains of glucose units. These chains, or polymers, are generally 3 to 17 glucose units in length. Maltodextrin and other short chains of sugars are referred to as oligosaccharides. Commonly spray dried and sold as a powder, maltodextrin may also be purchased in a syrup form dissolved in water.
To...
Is sodium bicarbonate allowed in organic processing from any source, or are only some forms acceptable?
By Brian Baker
There are two common processes used to make sodium bicarbonate: the Solvay process and the Trona process. In the Solvay process, limestone is mined and heated to produce carbon dioxide and quicklime (calcium oxide). The carbon dioxide is reacted with a saturated solution of ammonia in salt brine, resulting in the formation of ammonium bicarbonate. Continuous injection of carbon dioxide to the ammonium...
Can salt that contains additives be used in organic processing?
By Annie Amos
Although the National Organic Program (NOP) regulations state that salt is excluded from organic ingredient percentage calculations, many salts contain anti-caking, free-flowing, or conditioning agents that may be prohibited for use in organic processed foods. Additives or processing aids present in salt must be reviewed for compliance with §205.605(a) or (b) before the salt can be used.
Common salt additives that are allowed in...
Can homeopathic remedies be used to treat organic livestock?
By Andria Schulze
Homeopathy (from the Greek bases homo meaning “same” and path meaning “to feel” or “to suffer”) is based on the “law of similars,” first stated by German physician Samuel Hahnemann. The basic principle is that a suite of symptoms similar to those brought on by a particular substance can be treated by administering minute doses of that substance. So, for example, if the symptoms from which an individual is suffering are the same as those one...
How is chlorine allowed for use as a sanitizer in organic handling?
By Amber Lippert
In nature, chlorine is widely found in seawater in the form of the salt, sodium chloride (NaCl). Compounds of chlorine also occur as minerals in the Earth’s crust. It was not until the year 1810 that chlorine gas was added to the periodic table as an element in the halogen family - the least metallic and most highly reactive group of elements. Chlorine reacts directly with nearly all other elements, and forms salts called chlorides when...
What forms of chlorhexidine are allowed to treat organic livestock?
By Jason Stein
Chlorhexidine is a synthetic molecule that when dry appears as a pale yellow, odorless powder. It is usually dissolved at a concentration of 0.5-2% in glycerine and alcohol when prepared for use. The National Organic Program (NOP) guidelines at §205.238(b) and (c)(2) require that synthetic drugs on the National List cannot be used in the absence of illness, and only when preventive practices and veterinary biologics are...
My feed label says it contains "zeolite." What is this, and is it allowed in feed for organic livestock?
By Deder Siedler
Zeolite is a generic term for a class of porous minerals that exhibit unique qualities as adsorbents, carriers and catalysts. The zeolite in your livestock feed is likely a “flow agent” or anti-caking treatment, which adsorbs moisture to keep the feed dry. The FDA considers zeolites to be GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe), but does put restrictions on their use. Zeolite is composed of porous...
Are Quaternary Ammonium Compounds allowed for use in my certified organic operation?
By Doug Currier
Quaternary Ammonium Cations (NR4+) are a group of powerful surfactants used in a variety of industries for their hydrophobic and anti-microbial properties. Often referred to as “quats” or QACs (Quaternary Ammonium Compounds), these materials are found in products ranging from shampoos, to corrosion inhibitors used in the oil and gas industry, to formulation ingredients for pesticides.
Quats are synthetic...
What are the standards for natural flavors in organic foods, and why doesn't caffeine qualify?
By Lindsay Fernandez-Salvador
According to the National Organic Program (NOP) regulations, nonsynthetic flavors may be used in products labelled as “organic” or “made with organic (specified ingredients or food group(s))” if organic flavors are not commercially available. All flavors must be derived from organic or nonsynthetic sources only, and must not be produced using synthetic solvents and carrier systems, or any...
