Labeling Organic Products

Organic products have strict production and labeling requirements. Unless noted below, organic products must meet the following requirements:

-    Produced without excluded methods (e.g., genetic engineering), ionizing radiation, or sewage sludge.

-    Produced per the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List).

-    Overseen by a USDA National Organic Program- authorized certifying agent, following all USDA organic regulations.

Overall, 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.* You may only, on the information panel, identify the certified organic ingredients as organic and the percentage of organic ingredients.

(*Some operations are exempt from certification, including organic farmers who sell $5,000 or less. For more information on exempt labeling click here.)

An overview of labeling the various categories of organic products is provided below.

Principal Display Panel: portion of the package most likely to be seen by customers at the time of purchase.

Information Panel: includes ingredient statement (list of ingredients contained in a product, from highest to lowest percentage of final product) and other product information.

Your certifying agent will review and approve each of your product labels to ensure compliance. To learn more about labeling requirements in the USDA organic regulations, click here.

100% Organic

Raw or processed agricultural products in the “100 percent organic” category must meet these criteria:

-  All ingredients must be certified organic.

-  Any processing aids must be organic.

-  Product labels must state the name of the certifying agent on the information panel.

May include USDA organic seal and/or 100 percent organic claim.

Must identify organic ingredients (e.g., organic dill) or via asterisk or other mark.

Organic

Raw or processed agricultural products in the “organic” category must meet these criteria:

-  All agricultural ingredients must be certified organic, except where specified on National List.

-  Non-organic ingredients allowed per National List may be used, up to a combined total of five percent of non-organic content (excluding salt and water).

-  Product labels must state the name of the certifying agent on the information panel.

May include USDA organic seal and/or organic claim.

Must identify organic ingredients (e.g., organic dill) or via asterisk or other mark.

“Made with” Organic

Multi-ingredient agricultural products in the “made with” category must meet these criteria:

-  At least 70 percent of the product must be certified organic ingredients (excluding salt and water).

-  Any remaining agricultural products are not required to be organically produced but must be produced without excluded methods (see page 1).

-  Non-agricultural products must be specifically allowed on the National List.

-  Product labels must state the name of the certifying agent on the information panel.

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.”  Must identify organic ingredients (e.g., organic dill) or via asterisk or other mark.

Specific Organic Ingredients

Multi-ingredient products with less than 70 percent certified organic content (excluding salt and water) don’t need to be certified. Any non-certified product:

-  Must not include USDA organic seal anywhere or the word “organic” on principal display panel.

-           - May only list certified organic ingredients as organic in the ingredient list and the percentage of organic ingredients. Remaining ingredients are not required to follow the USDA organic regulations.

Based on the label, IF the product contains at least 70 percent certified organic content (excluding salt and water) AND is overseen by a certifying agent, your muffin mix would qualify for the “made with” organic labeling category. To qualify for the “organic” category and use the USDA organic seal, your blueberries and cinnamon would also need to be certified organic.

(from USDA National Organic Program)