Organic Food

In the early days of organic food there was much confusion about the precise meaning of the term but this is now legally defined within the European Union. To be labeled 'organic' 95 per cent of the inputs must be organically produced; that means without prohibited pesticides, fertilizers and additives. Moreover, when a producer has converted from conventional to organic farming, two years must have elapsed since the last non-permitted inputs (three years in the case of perennial crops). There is a second recognized category with at least 70 per cent organic content but less than 95 per cent. Such products can be labeled: 'made with x per cent organic or organically produced ingredients'.

Organic food producers have to be registered as such and inspected. These requirements are laid out in a 1991 EEC Regulation (No. 2092/91), since revised and extended several times.

Some people will be surprised at that 95 per cent. The urge to be organic is a quest for purity - so why be satisfied with 95 per cent? The reason is that some non-organic inputs, including additives, are so essential that they are permitted in organic food. Annex VI to the Regulations lists the allowed non-organic inputs allowed at up to 5 per cent of the total, under the headings: A) non-organic additives, yeasts and minerals; B) processing aids, such as releasing oils and flushing gases; C) agricultural ingredients.

In Europe, 29 additives are currently permitted in organic food under the organic food regulations (No. 206/93 ): the list is currently being revised.

One of the most indispensable additives is sulphur dioxide (E220). All wine contains suphur dioxide as preservative, whether organic or not. Sulphur dioxide is a preservative, antioxidant and bleaching agent and no adequate substitute for it exists. Organic wine production also uses clarifying agents bentonite (E558) and kaolin (E559).

Additives approved by all EU member states at the time of writing:

E153 - Vegetable carbon

E160b - Annatto, Bixin, Norbixin

E170 - Calcium carbonates

E220 - Sulphur dioxide or E223 (Sodium metabisulphite), or E224 (Potassium metabisulphite)

E270 - Lactic acid

E290 - Carbon dioxide

E306 -Tocopherol-rich extract

E322 - Lecithin

E325 - Sodium lactate

E331 - Sodium citrate

E400 - Alginic acid

E406 - Agar

E407 - Carrageenan

E410 - Sodium alginate and E402 (Potassium alginate)

E412 - Guar gum

E414 - Arabic gum

E415 - Xanthan gum

E440(i) - Pectin

E464 - Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose

E500 - Sodium carbonates

E509 - Calcium chloride

E938 - Argon

E939 - Helium

E941 - Nitrogen

E948 - Oxygen.

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