Who is too Organic products often does so for a good reason: less chemicals, more naturalness, more transparency. The green organic label on the packaging conveys trust - a promise of a healthier, more honest diet. But many people don't realise this: Additives are also permitted in organic products. And quite a few of them.
In total, the EU Organic Regulation contains over 50 Additives authorised for use in organic food. Less than in conventional products - yes. But "free from anything artificial"? This is a myth that does not stand up to closer scrutiny.
🧪 Why are additives allowed in organic food at all?
Organic products must also:
- Preserved,
- processed,
- transportable
- and for consumers attractive be.
Processed organic foods in particular - such as bread, cheese, yoghurt or tofu - cannot be produced without technological aids. Additives fulfil the same functions as in conventional products: They Stabilise, colour, emulsify, gel or preserve.
The difference? As a rule only certain additives of natural origin used - and only then, if it is technologically necessary and there is no bio-compliant alternative.
📋 Which additives are permitted in organic food?
According to the EU Organic Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2018/848, Annex V, Part A) are currently over 50 Additives approved for the processing of organic food. They are intended to help facilitate technological processing - for example through gelling, emulsification, preservation or pH stabilisation. At first glance, these are comparatively "natural" or "less harmful" substances - but appearances are deceptive.
Here are some examples:
Sunflower lecithin (E 322)
An emulsifier that is plant-based, but nevertheless Highly processed is used. Soya lecithin is only permitted to a limited extent in organic products, which is why sunflower lecithin is often used - also to enable the "soya-free" declaration.
Pectin (E 440)
E 440 is a gelling agent obtained from apples or citrus fruits. Sounds harmless - but here, too, the Industrially complex manufacturing process including chemical extraction steps. Its use is particularly standard for jams or fruit spreads.
Citric acid (E 330)
E 330 is a popular acidity regulator. The name sounds natural, but industrially it is usually not obtained from lemonsbut with the help of Mould fungi (Aspergillus niger)that ferment molasses or glucose. Although permitted, they are not always well tolerated by people with fungal allergies or irritable bowel syndrome.
Locust bean gum (E 410)
A thickening agent made from the seeds of the carob tree. It is considered harmless, but is increasingly being criticised because it Allergies or flatulence especially in higher quantities.
Lactic acid (E 270)
It is produced naturally through fermentation, but is manufactured industrially and is used as a preservative in vegan and fermented products, among other things. In larger quantities, it can cause allergic reactions in sensitive people. Nausea or digestive problems cause.
Calcium carbonate (E 170)
Used, among other things, as Carrier, filler or whitening agent (e.g. in chewing gum or herbal drinks). Even though it is a natural substance (limestone, chalk), the aesthetic purpose often questionable - White yoghurt = fresher?
What organic is not allowed to do - but what it really means
In fact, there is a whole range of additives that are permitted in conventional foods, but not in organic products. forbidden are. These include:
- Sodium benzoate (E 211) - Preservative, in many soft drinks
- Aspartame (E 951) - Controversial sweetener
- Artificial colourings like Tartrazine (E 102) - Potentially hyperactivity-promoting
That sounds good - but: Organic does not automatically mean free from additives. Many consumers assume exactly that - and are disappointed when they read the list of ingredients more closely. Especially with processed organic products such as vegan cheese, plant-based drinks, organic ready meals or protein bars additives that are hardly less problematic in their effect or processing than their conventional alternatives.
⚠️ Less does not automatically mean harmless
The use of additives in organic products is more strictly regulatedbut that does not automatically mean that All authorised substances are harmless are. Because natural additives can also:
- for sensitive persons Trigger intolerances,
- Technologically highly processed (e.g. citric acid from moulds),
- or be critical in high quantities (e.g. phosphates).
Organic must also think economically
An often overlooked point: Organic is also an industry. And economic constraints also apply here. Producers must Consistently process large batchesproducts must Stable and storable and the flavour should be naturally convincing - even when natural ingredients "lose their flavour".
Especially in highly processed organic products - for example:
- vegan meat and cheese alternatives,
- Protein shakes and bars,
- Ready meals or sauces -
is the use of additives not the exception, but common practice.
They make it possible:
- better consistency with vegetable proteins,
- Emulsification of fatty and aqueous ingredients,
- Shelf life even without classic preservatives,
- and a consistent flavour experience - regardless of natural fluctuations in the raw ingredients.
In short: additives also help to fulfil expectations in organic products - even if the end product has little to do with naturalness.
🛒 What does this mean for you as a consumer?
Organic is not the same as "free from everything" - but it is often the better choicebecause:
✅ Fewer additives are permitted
✅ Artificial colours and preservatives are taboo
✅ Transparency and monitoring by organic organisations are higher
Nevertheless, even with organic products, it is worth look critically at the list of ingredients - especially with highly processed foods. Because:
The shorter the list of ingredients - the closer the product is to what you really expect: Naturalness.
At bleibwacker, naturalness is not a promise - it's a lived aspiration.
You will only find what really belongs in the products. No frills, no hidden additives - only ingredients that you would use in your own kitchen.
The products are vegan, organic and really tasty - but above all they are honest. Because the motto is: only put in what belongs inside.
Sources:
European Union, 2018. Regulation (EU) 2018/848. Available at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/ [Accessed 22 Apr. 2025].
Lebensmittelklarheit.de, 2024. Additives in organic food. Available at: https://www.lebensmittelklarheit.de/ [Accessed 22 Apr. 2025].
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