Is 100 organic certified organic

Understanding the USDA Organic Label

Posted by Miles McEvoy, Deputy Administrator of the National Organic Program in

Food and Nutrition

Jul 22, 2016

Amidst nutrition facts, ingredient lists, and dietary claims on food packages, organic might appear as one more piece of information to decipher when shopping for products. Understanding what the organic label means can help shoppers make informed purchasing choices.

Organic is a labeling term found on products that have been produced using cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that support the cycling of on-farm resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity. The National Organic Program part of USDAs Agricultural Marketing Service enforces the organic regulations, ensuring the integrity of the USDA Organic Seal.

In order to make an organic claim or use the USDA Organic Seal, the final product must follow strict production, handling and labeling standards and go through the organic certification process. The standards address a variety of factors such as soil quality, animal raising practices, and pest and weed control. Synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation, and genetic engineering may not be used.

Organic producers rely on natural substances and physical, mechanical, or biologically based farming methods to the fullest extent possible. Organic produce must be grown on soil that had no prohibited substances (most synthetic fertilizers and pesticides) applied for three years prior to harvest. As for organic meat, the standards require that animals are raised in living conditions accommodating their natural behaviors, fed organic feed, and not administered antibiotics or hormones.

There are four distinct labeling categories for organic products 100 percent organic, organic, made with organic ingredients, and specific organic ingredients.

In the 100 Percent Organic category, products must be made up of 100 percent certified organic ingredients. The label must include the name of the certifying agent and may include the USDA Organic Seal and/or the 100 percent organic claim.

In the Organic category, the product and ingredients must be certified organic, except where specified on National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. Non-organic ingredients allowed perthe National List may be used, but no more thanfive percent of the combined total ingredients may contain non-organic content. Additionally, the label must include the name of the certifying agent, and may include the USDA Organic Seal and/or the organic claim.

For multi-ingredient products in the made with organic category, at least 70 percent of the product must be certified organic ingredients. The organic seal cannot be used on the product, and the final product cannot be represented as organic only up to three ingredients or ingredient categories can be represented as organic. Any remaining ingredients are not required to be organically produced but must be produced without excluded methods (genetic engineering). All non-agricultural products must be allowed on the National List. For example, processed organic foods may contain some approved non-agricultural ingredients, like enzymes in yogurt, pectin in fruit jams, or baking soda in baked goods.

Multi-ingredient products with less than 70 percent certified organic content would fall under the specific organic ingredients, and dont need to be certified. These products cannot display the USDA Organic Seal or use the word organic on the principal display panel. They can list certified organic ingredients in the ingredient list and the percentage of organic ingredients.

Becoming familiar with organic labeling allows consumers to make informed decisions about the products they purchase. Consumers can be assured that the integrity of USDA organic products are verified from farm to market. You can learn more about organic labeling by visiting: Labeling Organic Products.

Labeling Organic Products

About Organic Labeling

This page provides an overview of key requirements and the various labeling categories allowed under the USDA organic regulations.Organic product labels must be reviewed and approved by a USDA-accredited certifying agent before being used in the marketplace.

What requirements do organic products have to meet?

• Organic products must be produced using agricultural production practices that foster resource cycling, promote ecological balance, maintain and improve soil and water quality, minimize the use of synthetic materials, and conserve biodiversity. Products must be:

Can a product be labeled organic without being certified?

• If you make a product and want to claim that it or its ingredients are organic, your final product probably needs to be certified.

• If you are not certified, you must not make any organic claim on the principal display panel or use the USDA organic seal anywhere on the package.(see exemption below)
• You may only, on the information panel, identify the certified organic ingredients as organic and the percentage of organic ingredients.

What do the organic product labeling rules cover?

• Covers wording allowed on both the front panel and the information panel of a packaged product:
  • Principal display panel (PDP): portion of the package most likely to be seen by customers at the time of purchase
  • Information panel (IP): includes ingredient statement (list of ingredients contained in a product, from highest to lowest percentage of final product) and other product information
• View complete rules in the Product Composition section of the USDA organic regulations

What do the four different organic labels mean?

100 Percent Organic

• Used to label any product that contains 100 percent organic ingredients (excluding salt and water, which are considered natural)
• Most raw, unprocessed or minimally processed farm crops can be labeled 100 percent organic
• • PDP:May include USDA organic seal and/or 100 percent organic claim
  • IP:Identify organic ingredients (e.g., organic dill) or via asterisk or other mark

Organic

• Any product that contains a minimum of 95 percent organic ingredients (excluding salt and water)
• Up to 5 percent of ingredients may be nonorganic agricultural products and/or nonagricultural products on the National List (nonorganic agricultural products and several nonagricultural products on the National List may only be used if they are not commercially available as organic)
  • PDP: May include USDA organic seal and/or organic claim
  • IP: Identify organic ingredients (e.g., organic dill) or via asterisk or other mark

Made with Organic ______

• Product contains at least 70 percent organically produced ingredients (excluding salt and water), with a number of detailed constraints regarding ingredients that comprise the nonorganic portion
  • PDP: May state made with organic (insert up to three ingredients or ingredient categories); must not include USDA organic seal anywhere, represent finished product as organic, or state made with organic ingredients
  • IP: Identify organic ingredients (e.g., organic dill) or via asterisk or other mark

Specific Organic Ingredient Listings

• Specific organic ingredients may be listed in the ingredient statement of products containing less than 70 percent organic contentsfor example, Ingredients: water, barley, beans, organic tomatoes, salt.
  • PDP: Must not include USDA organic seal anywhere or the word organic
  • IP: May only list certified organic ingredients as organic in the ingredient list and the percentage of organic ingredients; remaining ingredients not required to follow the USDA organic regulations

What about labeling for alcoholic beverages?

• Must meet both USDA organic requirements and Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) regulations, including sulfite labeling requirements
  • Any use of added sulfites makes the wine only eligible for the made with labeling category; may not use the USDA organic seal
  • Sulfites may only be added to wine made with organic grapes; wine labeled as made with other organic fruit (e.g., apples) may not contain added sulfites
• All organic alcohol labels must be reviewed by an organic certifying agent and the TTB
• More:

Is labeling for textiles different as well?

• Finished product is certified organic and produced in full compliance with the USDA organic regulations: entire product may be labeled organic and display the USDA organic seal
• All instances of specific fibers in finished product are certified organic: label may claim the specific fibers are organic and identify the percentage of organic fibers
• Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS): textiles that meet this standard may be sold as organic in the United States.Textiles: Unless the finished product is certified to the USDA organic regulations, product labels may not state or imply that the finished product is USDA organic or use the USDA organic seal.
• Organic Textile Policy (pdf)

Are there separate rules for honey, mushrooms, or pet food?

• The USDA organic regulations do not currently include separate standards for these products.
• Honey, mushrooms, and pet foodmay be certified to current production and handling standards and must comply with labeling requirements for organic products certified under these standards. Talk to your certifier for details.

Are there any exemptions?

• Producers who market less than $5,000 worth of organic products annually are not required to apply for organic certification, with the following caveats:
  • Must comply with the organic production and handling requirements of the regulations, including recordkeeping (for at least 3 years).
  • Products from such noncertified operations cannot be used as organic ingredients in processed products produced by another operation nor may they display the USDA certified organic seal.

Where can I get more information?

What does a trademark do for organic farms and businesses?

The registered trademark protects the USDA organic name and logo from misuse by giving the USDA intellectual property rights to restrict the use of the registered mark, or a confusingly similar one, in agricultural production and handling. The new authority, which protects all certified farms and businesses, applies to products displaying the USDA organic seal within the U.S. and at its borders.

Is a registration symbol required for use with the USDA organic seal?

Certified organic operations are not required to change their labels to include the registration mark of the seal, and certified organic products currently in the marketplace still meet the requirements of certification. Operations may choose either version of the seal and existing labels do not need to be revised or discarded.

If operations choose the updated version of the organic seal with the registration mark , it is available for download in multiple file formats on the AMS website. As always, certified operations are to seek approval from their certifier before making any product label changes..

About NOP

Organic 101: What the USDA Organic Label Means

Posted by Miles McEvoy, National Organic Program Deputy Administrator in

Health and Safety

Mar 22, 2012

This is the thirdinstallment of theOrganic 101series that explores different aspects of the USDA organic regulations.

Amidst nutrition facts, ingredients lists, and dietary claims on food packages, organic might appear as one more piece of information to decipher when shopping for foods. So understanding what organic really means can help shoppers make informed choices during their next visit to the store or farmers market.

USDA certified organic foods are grown and processed according to federal guidelines addressing, among many factors, soil quality, animal raising practices, pest and weed control, and use of additives. Organic producers rely on natural substances and physical, mechanical, or biologically based farming methods to the fullest extent possible.

Produce can be called organic if its certified to have grown on soil that had no prohibited substances applied for three years prior to harvest. Prohibited substances include most synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. In instances when a grower has to use a synthetic substance to achieve a specific purpose, the substance must first be approved according to criteria that examine its effects on human health and the environment (see other considerations in Organic 101: Allowed and Prohibited Substances).

As for organic meat, regulations require that animals are raised in living conditions accommodating their natural behaviors (like the ability to graze on pasture), fed 100% organic feed and forage, and not administered antibiotics or hormones.

When it comes to processed, multi-ingredient foods, the USDA organic standards specify additional considerations. Regulations prohibit organically processed foods from containing artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors and require that their ingredients are organic, with some minor exceptions. For example, processed organic foods may contain some approved non-agricultural ingredients, like enzymes in yogurt, pectin in fruit jams, or baking soda in baked goods.

When packaged products indicate they are made with organic [specific ingredient or food group], this means they contain at least 70% organically produced ingredients. The remaining non-organic ingredients are produced without using prohibited practices (genetic engineering, for example) but can include substances that would not otherwise be allowed in 100% organic products. Made with organic products will not bear the USDA organic seal, but, as with all other organic products, must still identify the USDA-accredited certifier. You can look for the identity of the certifier on a packaged product for verification that the organic product meets USDAs organic standards.

As with all organic foods, none of it is grown or handled using genetically modified organisms, which the organic standards expressly prohibit (see Organic 101: What Organic Farming (and Processing) Doesnt Allow).

Becoming familiar with the USDA organic label and understanding its claims empower consumers to make informed decisions about the food they purchase. While there are many marketing claims that add value to foods, consumers can be assured that USDA organic products are verified organic at all steps between the farm and the store.