Organic claims evolve in line with changing regulations
06 Jan 2021 | Bell Flavors and Fragrances
Bell Flavors & Fragrances has launched a range of certified organic flavors and beverage compounds. The move is in line with changing regulations on organic food products in the EU. Bell has recently conducted an in-depth market analysis to evaluate the impacts of the new rules for organic food in various segments. Agneta Hoffmann shares some insights on organic-compliant ingredients and the implications this has on the F&B sector.
This is Elizabeth Green from Food Ingredients First.
Bow Flavors and Fragrances have launched a range of certified organic flavors and beverage compound compounds.
The move from the company is in line with changing regulations on organic food products in the EU.
Earlier this year, BO conducted an in-depth market analysis to evaluate the impacts of the new regulations for organic food in various segments.
During FI Europe Connect, the company is exhibiting its latest range.
Agneta Hoffman, marketing manager at Bell, is with us now.
Thank you, Agneta, for joining me.
Thank you for having me.
No problem.
Firstly, I'd like to ask what defines organic food products and makes them important in the F&B sector as a whole?
Yeah, so generally speaking, organic farming emphasizes the use of renewable resources on the one side and also the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations on the other side.
For example, by use of, of limited use of fertilizers and pesticides, via strong restrictions on genetic modification or ionization, as as antibiotics.
But for consumers, the appeal of organic products goes even further than just avoiding chemicals.
So in Europe, for example, the majority of consumers believe that natural products taste significantly better and almost 40% associate an organic certification with a more natural product.
So the growth in organic food products in recent years can be mainly attributed to the consumer's increasing health consciousness and also their growing interest in naturalness, in clean labeling, and transparency, as as their environmental concerns.
And that's why purchasing decisions for organic food are clearly based on health, environment, food safety and quality.
Mhm, thank you.
Can you share some details on the specific market dynamics and implications this might have for the private labor sector?
Yeah, of course.
So according to market data, the global market for organic food products is projected to expand at a CGR of 15% during the forecast period until 2024.
And having said this, the European Union represents the second largest single market for organic food after the US.
We also see a very strong dynamic in the majority of Western European countries as.
And moreover, organic is currently one of the biggest growth drivers in retail business, sustained by both branded products as as own labels, and it represents a major opportunity for the value-added private labor market, helping to generate shopper loyalty and category growth in the end.
Mhm, that's very interesting.
More on the consumer side then, how are consumers' behaviors leading these changing regulations, in your opinion?
Consumers clearly link organic with personal health and wellness, which is the most important lifestyle trend of this decade, and the majority of consumers also associate organic with a clean label and above all, naturalness.
And many European consumers also further associate organic food products with a better quality.
So proving better quality at the end also means emphasizing the use of high-quality ingredients in a product's formulation.
And this can also be reflected by the flavors and extracts that are used.
At the same time, the purchasing of organic food products has especially increased among younger consumers or younger generations, such as Gen Zs and millennials, for example.
And with respect to the ever-growing demand for organic food products on a global level, legislations are adapting too.
And then, are you able to outline how these regulations have changed over time with regards to organic food?
Yeah, sure.
So from 2022, a new organic legislation will be in place which will have an impact on the flavorings and extracts allowed in any organic certified product within the European Union.
So for an end product to carry an organic claim, at least 95% of the agricultural ingredients need to be organic.
Just 5% of the agricultural ingredients may come from non-organic sources.
At the same time, flavorings will be regarded as an agricultural ingredients themselves, so maximum amount allowed in any organic product will be only 5% of the total agricultural ingredients.
And moreover, at least 95% of a natural flavoring must always originate from the named source.
And with this, we are talking about 95 5 flavors in the end.
So after the deadline, there will only be two possibilities using flavors in organic food products, either using flavorings that are certified themselves.
Or using conventional flavorings that are organic suitable.
But, however, it is mandatory to have organic certified flavors or extracts in organic products if the sum of all non-organic certified ingredients of agricultural origin exceeds this 5% exception rule.
Which is mainly the case for beverage compounds, for seasonings, for example, or at the same time, if the manufacturer strictly complies to a strategy of only using certified ingredients based on their brand value or on their positioning.
Mhm.
It's very interesting.
Lastly then, how is BO approaching the organic market?
How do your flavors and compounds offer a solution to these new regulations?
Yeah, so based on the challenges appearing with these new regulations, we not only provide a range of organic compliant flavors for the different categories, we specifically targeted the most affected segments such as beverages or seasonings, providing organic certified taste solutions.
We have therefore carried out an organic certifications for our European side.
And we also invested in strengthening our expertise in the organic field as such, from a technical expertise in flavor creation to sourcing to production technology, and also regulatory proficiency in the end.
So this means that we are helping manufacturers to overcome the problem of passing the new organic regulations or to keep their organic label or the status of their organic product if the dosage within the product formulation is beyond 5%.
And on the other side, we also help them to be compliant to consumer demands while at the same time delivering sensorial attractive products.
That's great, Agneta.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
It was my pleasure.
