Clarifying organic product regulations

The Agricultural Marketing Service, which administers the National Organic Program (N.O.P.) has published a draft guidance requesting input regarding food and beverage products labeled as "made with organic," reports FoodBusinessNews. If a processed food contains at least 70 percent organic ingredients, it may be labeled "made with organic," and the ingredients used must be specified on the label.

Also addressed in the draft guidance are non-organic ingredients in organic products, and clarifies the percentage statements under the "made with organic" labeling category. Ingredients derived from bioengineered organisms, sewage sludge or ionizing radiation may not feature the label. Natural or synthetic ingredients or processing aids must be included on the N.O.P.'s list of approved ingredients or processes to qualify. Comments are due by March 14, 2011.

"This guidance is intended to ensure consistency across the organic food industry," said Deputy Administrator of the National Organic Program, Miles McEvoy, "For example, it answers questions about what ingredients may be used within the 30 percent non-organic portion of 'made with organic' products."

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