The popularity of organic foods has skyrocketed over the past twenty years, turning organics into a multi-billion-dollar industry. As of May 2022, 3 in 4 grocery stores offer organic products, while 34% of Americans say they eat at least some organic foods. It only makes sense that the demand for organic certification would make its way to the nutraceutical industry. Organic supplements are more widely available and in demand than ever before. Growth in organic supplement manufacturing outpaces non-organic supplements by over 75% per year.
Organic supplements are made with agricultural ingredients such as organically grown fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy or meat products. The use of organic ingredients make these supplements different from those containing conventionally grown agricultural ingredients. But how do some supplements earn the coveted “100% Organic” or “USDA Organic” labels? What nutraceuticals can be organic? And are there any benefits?
What Qualifies as “Organic?”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has stringent requirements for what products can be considered “organic.” These range from soil quality to animal raising practices to pest and weed control. Products also can’t contain artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. And they must avoid any genetically modified organisms.
When it comes to organic supplements, there are three tiers of “organic” classification based on the nutraceutical’s content:
- 100% Organic – This is the top tier, reserved only for products produced in organic-certified facilities using only organic ingredients. These supplements carry both the “USDA Organic” and “100% Organic” labels.
- USDA Organic – These products contain at least 95% by weight of organic ingredients, making them eligible to display the “USDA Organic” seal prominently on their labels.
- Made with Organic Ingredients – These products contain at least 70% organic content. As a result, only limited organic language is allowed on their labels, and they cannot carry the “USDA Organic” seal.
If you partner with our team to manufacture your supplement, we have formulation and certification experts to guide you through the standards for an organic label and other food safety certifications.
What Kind of Organic Supplements Are There?
Organic powders are among the most popular organic supplements available because of their ease of production. Organic fruits, vegetables and whole grains can be dehydrated and turned into powdered supplements or drink mixes, in combination with organic-certified flavors and sweeteners. This is why you often see powdered supplements containing the 100% Organic or USDA Organic seal. At Vitaquest, we specialize in manufacturing green food, “superfood,” and whole food powder blends.
There are also such things as organic tablets, which we also manufacture here at Vitaquest using our own proprietary organic tablet technology. It can be quite tricky to manufacture a certified organic tablet, as it requires specialized equipment to transform organic actives and excipients’ ingredients into robust and shelf-stable tablets.
The Benefits of Organic Supplements
Research regarding organic produce indicates that those who eat these fruits, vegetables, grains and meats experience significantly higher levels of vitamin C, iron, magnesium, and phosphorus and see lower levels of pesticide residues. However, research on organic supplements is still inconclusive. Despite this, many consumers continue to opt for organic supplements because they have peace of mind in knowing that these products use whole, natural ingredients.
Please note that organic supplements should never replace medically backed nutritional recommendations from your primary care provider.
Organic Supplement Manufacturing with Vitaquest
Thanks to our innovative team and state-of-the-art technology, we are proud to be leaders in the organic supplement manufacturing industry. From organic powders to tablets, if you have a clean label product you want to bring to market, we have the product development, regulatory and quality experts to help you take your product from concept to creation.
Organic supplements are still a new phenomenon. While a wealth of research is already available, new discoveries and advancements are constantly being made. You can rest assured that when there is room for innovation, Vitaquest will be at the forefront of delivering what’s next. Contact us to learn more about our organic supplement manufacturing process.
