AMS Bans Use of Non-Organic Substances in Organic Foods

The Agricultural Marketing Service is amending the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Circumstances in its organic regulations to prohibit eight substances and maintain three exemptions for non-organic products, it said (here). The agency is newly prohibiting the use in organic foods of lignin sulfonate (for use as a floating agent), furosemide, magnesium carbonate, and the non-organic forms of chia, dillweed oil, frozen galangal, frozen lemongrass and chipotle chile peppers, it said. AMS is also renewing listings allowing the use of non-organic forms of oligofructose enriched inulin, Turkish bay leaves and whey protein concentrate in organic products. The changes, which result from the National Organic Standards Board’s 2017 sunset review, take effect Aug. 7.