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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...
If a product is OMRI Listed® for use under USDA organic regulations, does that provide sufficient verification of GE status to prove compliance under the COR standards?
By Sarah Peters
The Canadian and U.S. regulations differ in regard to how they address genetic engineering (GE) in organic production. As a result, the OMRI listing of a product for compliant use under the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) regulations does not automatically equate to that same material being considered compliant under the Canadian...
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...
Can paper green waste collection bags printed with colored ink be used as a compost feedstock?
By Daniel Nguyen
Paper green waste collection bags are available for residential use, and many of these paper bags are printed with colored inks. These paper green waste collection bags are often destined for the compost pile and, if not removed, these bags with colored ink become feedstocks in the resulting compost. The bags and the green waste contained therein are evaluated for compliance against the National Organic...
Are there non-synthetic sources of phosphoric acid? Under the Canada Organic Regime (COR) standards, what restrictions apply to phosphoric acid used as a formulant in livestock health care products?
By Cesar Cartagena
As one of the six macrominerals, phosphorus is an essential element for life. Its elemental forms, white and red phosphorous, are highly reactive, and phosphorous is most often found in nature as the insoluble rock phosphate mineral apatite.
Phosphorous is better absorbed when in soluble form, such...
How does OMRI evaluate genetically engineered (GE) materials for use as ingredients in processed organic food products labeled as “organic” or “made with organic ingredients”?
By Taryn Kennedy
Because input materials for processing and handling can come in direct contact with food, or are included as ingredients, the review standards for these materials are more restrictive than the standards for crop and livestock inputs. When reviewing GE materials for processing and handling, OMRI distinguishes between “nonorganic...
How do the USDA standards address GMOs?
By Peter Bungum
In 2002, the OMRI Advisory Council developed a process for addressing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in inputs, and OMRI continues to use this process. This article, as well as articles on GMOs as Processing Inputs and GMOs as Livestock Inputs, reflect OMRI's historic and current stance on addressing GMO materials in the absence of further...
By Doug Currier
Based on a November 5, 2020 Federal Register Notice, OMRI has resolved a compliance issue related to natamycin use in USDA organic production, an issue previously considered “beyond resolution.” The resolution action taken by OMRI, in addition to this stakeholder announcement, includes removal of a “beyond...
How does laminarin work, and is it allowed?
By Tina Jensen Augustine
Laminarin is a pesticidal substance that the NOSB formally recommended be considered nonsynthetic and acceptable for use on organic operations in 2015. It is a naturally occurring polysaccharide in plants that is commercially extracted primarily from the brown algae Laminaria digitata. It is intended for preventative use, before infection occurs.
Laminarin functions by stimulating (eliciting) a plant’s natural defense mechanisms against disease...
How are the enzymes for processing organic foods produced and used?
By Nick Stansbury
Enzymes are proteins that act as catalysts and can increase the rates of chemical reactions. Enzymes can be sourced from plants, animals and microorganisms. Most commercially important enzymes are derived from microbial sources, with a smaller fraction derived from plant and animal tissues. The National Organic Program (NOP) regulations at §205.605(a) allow the use of animal enzymes (rennet – animal derived; catalase – bovine...
