English | Español
Looking for complete background information on a particular topic? You’ve come to the right place!
Browse OMRI’s articles, or contact us to suggest a topic. Don’t forget that subscribers receive the complete OMRI newsletter with the latest reports, delivered quarterly.
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 which exhibit unique qualities as adsorbents, carriers and catalysts. Zeolite is composed of porous crystals of silicon and aluminum, and the material can be loaded with other ions such as sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium. The most common forms that farmers might encounter are sodium silico-aluminate (SSA), calcium aluminosilicate (CAS...
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...
What products can I use to control the atmosphere around my organic produce?
By Taryn Kennedy
Atmospheric control is an important factor in the preservation of produce that is used during shipping and storage to delay ripening, extend shelf life, or prevent decay. Atmospheric composition is crucial to fruits and vegetables, because they “breathe” or respire as they mature, consuming oxygen (O2) and producing carbon dioxide (CO2) and a hormone called ethylene. Ethylene induces ripening, causing the produce to soften and...
Is sulfurous acid acceptable as a soil amendment in organic crop production?
By Jennifer Schomp
Sulfurous acid is a gaseous compound made up of sulfite and bisulfite (hydrogen sulfite) anions that are an effective pH adjuster when suspended in an aqueous solution. It was considered by the NOSB in 2009 for addition to the National List, and in July 2010 the National Organic Program (NOP) added sulfurous acid to the National List as an allowed synthetic for use as a plant or soil amendment, where it remains, having...
