What Is Organic
Introduction to Organic Foods and Products
Labeling products as "Bio" is far more older than the Organic labeling. Most of countries in EU have their own national wide label for Bio products. Bio foods are like organic foods products of ecofarming, but they are not regulated EU wide.
Each member state of the European union has its own rules and legislation for bio products, therefore the specifications in each country may vary, but in common all bio products must have at least 70% of natural compounds, additives and conservants and must be produced by ecofarming.
| Bio | Organic * | |
| EU wide quality standards | No | Yes |
| EU wide unified labeling | No | Yes |
| Minimum of organic compound | 70% | 95% |
| Tested and certified by authorities | vary per member state | Yes |
| Allowance of non-organic additives | Basic | Strict |
| Allowance of non-organic colouring | Basic | Strict |
| Allowance of non-organic conservants | Basic | Strict |
| Allowed additives | vary per member state | 45 |
*EU wide values
Here is a table of all permitted additives in organic foods that you can compare with allowed bio products additives in different EU countries.
| E 153: Vegetable carbon | E 333: Calcium citrates | E 440(i): Pectin |
| E 160b: Annatto, Bixin, Norbixin | E 334: Tartaric acid | E 464: Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose |
| E 170: Calcium carbonate | E 335: Sodium tartrates | E 500: Sodium carbonates |
| E 220: Sulphur dioxide or E 224: Potassium metabisulphite | E 336: Potassium tartrates | E 501: Potassium carbonates |
| E 250: Sodium nitrate or E 252: Potassium nitrate | E 341(i): Monocalcium phosphate | E 503: Ammonium carbonates |
| E 270: Lactic acid | E 400: Alginic acid | E 504: Magnesium carbonates |
| E 290: Carbon dioxide | E 401: Sodium alginate | E 509: Calcium chloride |
| E 296: Malic acid | E 402: Potassium alginate | E 516: Calcium sulphate |
| E 300: Ascorbic acid | E 406: Agar | E 524: Sodium hydroxide |
| E 301: Sodium ascorbate | E 407: Carrageenan | E 551: Silicon dioxide |
| E 306: Tocopherol-rich extract | E 410: Locust bean gum | E 553b: Talc |
| E 322: Lecithins | E 412: Guar gum | E 938: Argon |
| E 325: Sodium lactate | E 414: Arabic gum | E 939: Helium |
| E 330: Citric acid | E 415: Xanthan gum | E 941: Nitrogen |
| E 331: Sodium citrates | E 422: Glycerol | E 948: Oxygen |
Product label named "Natural" or any logo pointing to "Natural product" means absolutely nothing, it is only a marketing "trick" of producers and sellers to sell their product. So called natural products are neitner Organic or Bio, also there is no additional value of those products.
However some products labeled with "natural" may still be organic or bio, for further information on such product you should read carefuly the product description on its wrapping.
