More additives for organic food currently approved

New additives for organic foods: In the case of erythritol, the spirits divorced
The EU has approved four new additives for organic processors. Beeswax (E 901) from organic beekeeping and carnauba wax (E 903) from organic raw materials is now permitted as a coating agent for sweets. Both bee and Brazilian palm palm tree carnauba wax are particularly suitable for treating the surfaces of fruits and protecting them from drying out. Both substances were previously approved as release agents for bioprocessing.

Gellan (E 418) is approved as a new gelling agent. It is suitable for jams, jams and sweets. Even at low concentrations, gellan forms solid, clear gels from liquids. Gellan improves the gelling properties of locust bean gum frequently used in organic products.

New approval of additives in organic products. Image: Aycatcher - fotolia

Also allowed is the sugar substitute erythritol (E 968), but only if it was obtained from organic production without the use of ion exchange technology.

For organic farming, the EU regulation stipulates that "the use of additives and excipients must be kept to a minimum". While 320 additives are allowed in conventional food production, organic companies may now theoretically use around 50. However, the organic farming associations are stricter and come up with a good 20 substances.

While gellan and waxes are relatively uncontroversial, the approval of erythritol in the organic industry is rejected. "Erythritol does not even go with bio. The production is not compatible with ecological principles," says Karin Wegner from the German Association of Natural Foods Natural Products (BNN) about the new sweetener. According to the portal www.oekolandbau.de, critical voices from the organic associations complain that the clear strategic direction is lacking in the change: "For example, the harmless biochar has not had a wider range of applications The Commission simply waved through the controversial erythritol, "Dr. Friedhelm von Mering from the Federation of Organic Food Industry e.V. (BÖLW).

While additives for organic products generally have to come from organic raw materials, the new regulation makes an exception for lecithin (E322): it may also be used from conventional sources until 2019. Because lecithin in organic quality is currently not available in sufficient quantities.
Britta Klein, aid