The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is clarifying policy requirements for the use of the word “organic” on the labeling of packaged food products to provide fairness and equity in label use throughout the organic industry and to satisfy consumer expectations for organic products.
The new instruction does not allow a brand or company name with the word organic in it to be on the front of the package (Principal Display Panel) if the product falls below the 95 percent organic level. In other words, only products bearing the USDA Organic seal may display a brand or company name using the term organic on the front of the package, according to Brownfield Ag News.
On the contrary, foods certified at the made with organic level (70 percent) or containing organic ingredients may display the brand name containing the word organic on the information panel on the back of the package.
The National Organic Program (NOP) had previously reviewed brand or company names’ use of the term organic on a case-by-case basis. NOP did not believe its use was deemed to be false or misleading of organic status.