USDA OKs continued use of carrageenan in organic foods
The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) has decided that organic food companies can keep using the emulsifier carrageenan, despite a vote by the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) in 2016 to remove it from the national list of ingredients allowed in organic foods.
The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) has decided that organic food companies can keep using the emulsifier carrageenan, despite a vote by the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) in 2016 to remove it from the national list of ingredients allowed in organic foods.
Carrageenan is extracted from seaweed and has a long history of use as a thickening agent in food. The USDA’s National Organic Program allows for certain synthetic and non-synthetic substances that are not certified organic to be allowed in food labeled “organic” or “made with organic (specific ingredients or food group(s))” if the substances meet certain criteria, such as if the substances cannot be produced from a natural source and there are no organic substitutes. Such substances then appear on a National List.
The NOSB, an advisory group drawn from various parts of the organic industry, voted to remove the ingredient from the approved list after concerns were raised about whether the manufacturing process to create carrageenan from seaweed might turn it into a synthetic material by the NOSB definition. In addition, public comments during the sunset review in 2012 indicated considerable controversy surrounding the ingredient’s effect on human health.
In a statement published in the Federal Register, the USDA says it “found sufficient evidence in public comments to the NOSB that carrageenan continues to be necessary for handling agricultural products because of the unavailability of wholly natural substitutes.”
“We commend the USDA for taking seriously its responsibility to review the NOSB recommendation and make a decision based on the facts and science,” said Michiel van Genugten, global product line manager, Seaweed Extracts & Colors, DuPont Nutrition & Health. “This will allow organic food producers to continue to use a safe, versatile ingredient they rely on, and for consumers to enjoy the foods they know and love.”
On the other side of the debate, the Consumers Union issued a release stating its disappointment with the USDA’s decision. “Today’s decision by the USDA represents a troubling precedent that undermines the integrity of the organic label,” said Charlotte Vallaeys, senior policy analyst with Consumers Union. “Current law requires the USDA to base the National List of allowable ingredients for organic food on the recommendations of the National Organic Standards Board, which are developed after extensive public engagement and stakeholder input. The USDA’s decision to ignore the NOSB’s recommendation raises serious concerns about the future of the organic label.”
DuPont Nutrition & Health press release
Consumers Union press release