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Article: How much organic is in my product?

Wie viel Bio steckt in meinem Produkt?
Bio

How much organic is in my product?

Organic is not always organic: Numerous seals indicate the different standards that a product must meet. This can sometimes be quite overwhelming. For anyone who feels the same, we have looked at four of the most well-known seals and tried to classify them for you.


1. THE EU SEAL

Since July 2020, all packaged organic foods produced in the EU must carry this seal. It means that the food in question meets the European minimum standard. All other seals therefore automatically meet the requirements of this seal.

In concrete terms, this means that the following things were taken into account when developing a product:

• Avoidance of chemical-synthetic pesticides and fertilizers
• No genetic engineering
• 15 fattening pigs, 580 broiler chickens or 2 dairy cows may be kept per hectare
become.

• Animal feed must be organic, prohibition of preventive antibiotics or
hormone administration

• Only 53 specific additives are permitted for further processing

In the case of composite foods, a product may bear the seal if 95% of the agriculturally produced ingredients come from organic farming.

Manufacturers who carry this seal are inspected at least once a year. This inspection can be traced via a code on the packaging.

We think that products that carry this seal are better than those that do not have a seal at all. But there is definitely more that can be done.

2nd NATURLAND SEAL

The Naturland seal certifies companies in 58 countries worldwide. The association's focus is not only on ecological but also on social and fair business practices worldwide. Products can also receive the "Naturland Fair" certification.

The additional requirements for the organic seal are:

• Conversion of entire company to organic
• Limiting the amount of fertilizer
• Pasture for dairy cows
• permanent access for laying hens
• Animal transport of a maximum of 8 hours permitted
• At least 50% of the animal feed must come from the farm itself
• 22 additives approved
• Limitation of the number of animals permitted per hectare

In 2013, Naturland was involved in a scandal when the NGOs Animals Right Watch and Peta uncovered the questionable conditions of poultry farming at the Wiesengold company. The company had a Naturland seal and was regularly inspected by the company. The company subsequently dissolved. 

We think: A seal that stands for solid requirements and transparency and also includes social aspects. If you have the choice between Naturland and the EU seal, you should go with the former. 

 
4. THE BIOLAND SEAL

With over 7,000 companies and 1,100 partners in manufacturing and trade, BIOLAND claims to be Germany's market-leading organic farming association.

In addition to the EU criteria, BIOLAND products stand for:

• Circular economy, for the preservation of soils
• Permanent outdoor area for laying hens
• Only 22 additives permitted
• Animal feed must be 100% organic and 50% from the farm itself
• Fewer animals allowed per hectare
• Animal transport allowed for a maximum of 4 hours and 200 km

The seal stands for high ecological standards and a comprehensive quality assurance system. Bioland is way ahead when it comes to species-appropriate animal husbandry and should be preferred over the EU organic seal.

4. DEMETER SEAL

Demeter is the oldest and strictest farming association in Germany. Since 1924, farmers here have been working according to the principles of biodynamic agriculture according to Rudolf Steiner. At Demeter, the farm is seen as its own organism, which is exposed to material and immaterial influences, such as the cosmic effects of the moon and planets. Cosmetics or cleaning products can also carry the Demeter seal.
 

Demeter requires the following criteria:

• 100% of the animal feed must be organic, two thirds of which must be Demeter (for
For repeat buyers it must be 80%), at least 50% of the feed must be from
own farm

• Total company conversion: Before food is labelled with organic
Each farm must go through a conversion period. For Demeter,
these relate to the entire operation.

• Cows must not be dehorned
• Use of biodynamic preparations made from herbs, minerals and cow dung
• Significantly fewer additives allowed (no exact information)

The label also stands for the use of our own varieties and breeding work. For grain, only seed-stable varieties may be used, and no varieties from cell fusion technology or hybrid varieties regulation.

Demeter awards seals with a high standard and should be preferred to the EU seal. The requirements stand for a holistic approach and a particularly gentle treatment of animals and nature and are therefore somewhat stricter than Bioland or Naturland products. 

 

 

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