What is “organic” and what is not? In
the USA, this is now clear: The USDA
– United States Department of Agriculture
– recently ruled that products designated
with the coveted seal “USDA
Organic” may now contain gelatine.
This opens up new opportunities for
GELITA and its customers for promoting
their products.
Manufacturers of organic products must
fulfill stringent criteria with respect to
cultivation, handling and processing.
In order to promote such products, one
requires a USDA Certificate. Now, the
USDA has designated gelatine as one
of 38 ingredients that may be used in
USDA Organic products.
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In the USA there are three classification grades:
• 100 percent organic:
Single-ingredient foods like fruits, vegetables
or eggs can be labeled as 100
percent organic.
• USDA Organic:
Multiple ingredient foods, like cereal,
beer or yogurt, can use the USDA
organic seal (see graphic) if at least
95 percent of their ingredients are
organic and the other 5 percent of
ingredients, the minor ingredients, are
on the USDA’s approved list of 38 minor
ingredients. Gelatine is on this list of
approved minor ingredients.
• Made with organic ingredients:
Foods with multiple ingredients, of
which at least 70 percent are organic,
can be labeled as “Made with Organic
Ingredients,” but cannot use the USDA
organic seal.
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