Organic: What Label Claims Can You Use?

This is your go-to guide for all organic label claims you can put on a supplement.

Label claims and where you can put them have become a big question in this industry. Let's start with the different panels of a label.

Principle Display Panel (PDP): "The part of a label that is most likely to be displayed, presented, shown, or examined under customary conditions of display for sale."

Information Panel (IP): "The part of the label of a packaged product that is immediately to the right of the principal display panel, unless another section of the label is designated as the information panel because of package size or if the package is an irregular shape."

Ingredient Statement (IS): "The list of ingredients contained in a product shown in their common and usual names in the descending order of predominance."

Other Panel (OP): Any panel other than the principal display panel, information panel, or ingredients statement.

EXAMPLE:

After each statement under "Your Label," it will state where the statement may be made.

100% ORGANIC

Claim you want to make: "100% Organic"

Your Product:

Must Contains 100% Organic Ingredients, not counting adding water/salt

Your Label:

Must show an ingredient statement when the product consists of more than one ingredient. Show below the name and address of the handler (bottler, distributor, importer, manufacturer, packer, processor, etc.) of the finished product, the statement: “Certified organic by ---” or similar phrase, followed by the name of the Certifying agent. Certifying agent seals may not be used to satisfy this requirement. (IP)

May show the term "100 percent organic" to modify the product name. (PDP/IP/OP)

May show the term, “organic” to identify the organic ingredients. Water and salt included as ingredients must not be identified as organic. (IS)

May show the USDA organic seal and/or certifying agent seal(s). (PDP/OP)

May show The certifying agent business/ Internet address or telephone number. (IP)

ORGANIC

Claim you want to make: "Organic"

Your Product:

Must contain at least 95% organic ingredients, not counting added water and salt.

Must not contain added sulfites.

May contain, up to 5%of non-organically produced agricultural ingredients which are not commercially available in organic form; and/or b. other substances allowed by 7 CFR 205.605.

Your Label:

Must Show an ingredient statement.

Must list the organic ingredients as "organic" when other organic labeling is shown.

Water and salt included as ingredients must not be identified as organic. (IS)

Must show below the name and address of the handler (bottler, distributor, importer, manufacturer, packer, processor, etc.) of the finished product, the statement: “Certified organic by ---” or similar phrase, followed by the name of the Certifying agent. Certifying agent seals may not be used to satisfy this requirement. (IP)

May show the term "Organic" to modify the product name. (PDP/IP/OP)

May show "organic" or "X% organic ingredients." (PDP/IP/OP)

May show the USDA Organic seal and/or certifying agent seal(s). (PDP/OP)

May show the certifying agent business/ Internet address or telephone number.

(IP)

MADE WITH ORGANIC INGREDIENTS

Claim you want to make: "Made With Organic Ingredients"

Your Product:

Must contain at least 70% organic ingredients, not counting added water and salt.

May contain, up to 30% of non-organically produced agricultural ingredients and/or other substances, including yeast, allowed by 7 CFR 205.605.

Must not contain added sulfites; except that, wine may contain added sulfur dioxide in accordance with 7 CFR 205.605.

Your Label:

Must show an ingredient statement.

Must list the organic ingredients as "organic" when other organic labeling is shown.

Must show below the name and address of the handler (bottler, distributor, importer,

manufacturer, packer, processor, etc.) of the finished product, the statement: “Certified organic by ---” or similar phrase, followed by the name of the Certifying agent. Certifying agent seals may not be used to satisfy this requirement. (IP)

May show the term "Made with organic ---" (specified ingredients or food groups) (PDP/IP/OP)

May show "X% organic" or "X% organic ingredients."(PDP/IP/OP)

May show the certifying agent seal(s). (PDP/OP)

May show the certifying agent business/ Internet address or telephone number. (IP)

Must not identify water and salt included as organic ingredients (IS)

Must not show the USDA Organic Seal.