What are the most important labeling requirements for organic food products?

If you are a culinary manager who wants to offer organic food products to your customers, you need to be aware of the labeling requirements that apply to them. Organic food products are regulated by different agencies and standards depending on the country, region, or market where they are sold. In this article, we will explain what are the most important labeling requirements for organic food products in some of the major markets, such as the United States, the European Union, and Canada.

1 USDA organic seal

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversees the National Organic Program (NOP), which sets the rules and standards for organic food production and labeling in the US. The USDA organic seal is a voluntary label that indicates that a product meets the NOP requirements, which include avoiding synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, hormones, antibiotics, genetic engineering, irradiation, and sewage sludge. The USDA organic seal can only be used by certified organic producers and handlers, and it has four categories: 100% organic, organic (at least 95% organic ingredients), made with organic (at least 70% organic ingredients), and specific organic ingredients (less than 70% organic ingredients).

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2 EU organic logo

The European Union (EU) has its own regulations and standards for organic food production and labeling, which are harmonized across the member states. The EU organic logo is a mandatory label that indicates that a product complies with the EU organic rules, which are similar to the NOP requirements but also include animal welfare, biodiversity, and environmental protection. The EU organic logo can only be used by certified organic operators, and it has two categories: EU organic (at least 95% organic ingredients from the EU), and non-EU organic (at least 95% organic ingredients from a third country with equivalent standards).

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Mathilde Do Chi, LL.M.

Food regulations for non-lawyers - Future of Food| Foodtech| Alternative proteins| Biotech| Global Food Innovation| Novel Foods| ex-ADM| ex-FAO| Consultant| Board member| Public speaker
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You can only display the EU organic logo if your product has been certified by an accredited entity. Thus, it is forbidden to write organic or bio on the packaging of your product if you do not possess this certification. Additionally, any words used in the marketing strategy that would be similar to organic cannot be used for the product unless the product has been certified organic.

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Roberto Pinton

Food & beverage consulting
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The European organic logo is not a logo of origin, but of conformity: it can also be used on products coming from Third Countries, as long as it is obtained following standards equivalent (soon with standards compliant and not only equivalent) to the European ones and subject to certification by control bodies authorized by the EU Commission to operate in that country. However, it is mandatory to place the logo alongside the indication of the agricultural origin of the product which can be a Country (even a region of that Country) or "EU agriculture" or "non-EU agriculture" or even "EU/non-EU agriculture"

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3 Canada organic logo

Canada also has its own regulations and standards for organic food production and labeling, which are based on the Canadian Organic Standards (COS). The Canada organic logo is a voluntary label that indicates that a product meets the COS requirements, which are also similar to the NOP and EU organic rules but also include social and economic aspects. The Canada organic logo can only be used by certified organic operators, and it has two categories: Canada organic (at least 95% organic ingredients from Canada), and imported organic (at least 95% organic ingredients from a country with a recognized equivalency arrangement).

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Roberto Pinton

Food & beverage consulting
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Based on international agreements, USDA seal ca be used even in the EU market, such as EU logo can be used in US and Canada market and COR logo can be used in US e EU. Beyond the legitimacy of the use of the respective logos, however, consumers in the three regions recognize and have more confidence in the logo of their jurisdiction, there have been no B2C information campaigns on the logos of other jurisdictions.

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4 Other labels

Besides the official labels mentioned above, there are also other labels that may appear on organic food products, such as fair trade, non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan, or animal-friendly. These labels are not regulated by the same agencies or standards as the organic labels, and they may have different criteria and certification processes. Therefore, you should always check the source and validity of these labels before buying or selling organic food products, and make sure they do not conflict with the organic requirements.

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Mathilde Do Chi, LL.M.

Food regulations for non-lawyers - Future of Food| Foodtech| Alternative proteins| Biotech| Global Food Innovation| Novel Foods| ex-ADM| ex-FAO| Consultant| Board member| Public speaker
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Depending on the jurisdiction, these labels such as non-GMO, fair-trade, gluten-free, or vegan may be regulated by regulatory authorities under specific rules. Either the certification is granted by an accredited third party or the regulatory authorities implement rules to display such allegations. In the EU, you can say "non-GMO" if the final product contains less than 0.9% of detectable modified DNA which the company must be able to prove in case of controls.

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Roberto Pinton

Food & beverage consulting
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In the EU, while there are no problems in claiming the environmental or social sustainability of the product, great caution is needed for nutritional or health claims, which are governed by regulation 1924/2006: they can only be used if authorized by the European Commission after an evaluation of the European Food Safety Authority (regulation 432/2012 being the list of claims authorized, folllowed by some additions) and this even if the operator has gray literature or even articles published in peer reviewed scientific journals documenting positive effects

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5 Labeling tips

As a culinary manager, you should follow certain best practices when labeling your organic food products. This includes using clear and accurate language that does not mislead or confuse the consumers, as well as including all relevant information like product name, ingredients, origin, certification, and expiration date. Additionally, display the labels prominently and visibly on the packaging and the menu, and keep them updated and consistent with any changes in the product or regulations. It is also important to educate your staff and customers about the meaning and benefits of organic labels. By doing so, you can attract and retain customers, enhance your reputation, and comply with regulations. Adhering to these labeling requirements will ensure that your organic food products are of high quality and integrity, making you a responsible and trustworthy culinary manager.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Nicholas Alifa

Food Research Scientist | Commonwealth Scholarship Alumni | Harvard Executive Education Alumni | I help the food industry leverage data and digital technology to achieve sustainability objectives.
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The product must be certified by an approved organic control body in the country of origin or destination. The product label must include the code number of the control body and a statement of agricultural origin The product name or description can only use the term ‘organic’ or related terms if at least 95% of the agricultural ingredients are organic The EU logo for organic products is mandatory since 1 July 2010, along with an indication of the origin of raw materials. The UK has its own organic logo that can be used voluntarily by UK organic producers and processors. There are different rules for organic products imported from non-EU countries, depending on the equivalence agreements between the EU and the third country.

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Delroy Hanson

Father | Husband | Director of Food and Beverage | EAM | Passionate Hotelier (AI/EP Luxury and Lifestyle Properties)
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Companies in the USA, Canada, and certain European Union countries that market organic food products are now providing online verification for the authenticity of their goods.”

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What are the most important labeling requirements for organic food products?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 USDA organic seal

2 EU organic logo

3 Canada organic logo

4 Other labels

5 Labeling tips

6 Here’s what else to consider

Culinary Management

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What are the most important labeling requirements for organic food products?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 USDA organic seal

2 EU organic logo

3 Canada organic logo

4 Other labels

5 Labeling tips

6 Here’s what else to consider

Culinary Management

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