The terms “organic”, “eco”, “sustainable”, “local” and “close to nature” are intended to give consumers a better feeling when shopping in supermarkets. There are a lot of different seals and certificates. But what are these seals from associations like Demeter or Bioland and others really worth? How is it checked and by whom?
The EU organic regulation
The terms “organic” and “eco” are defined and protected by law in the EU. These foods must come from organically controlled cultivation. The addition of chemical pesticides is prohibited, as are genetic modifications. Animal products come from animals that were kept in a species-appropriate manner in accordance with the EC Organic Regulation. The EU organic regulation is controlled by private bodies. In addition to occasional spot checks, agricultural operations are inspected once a year by experts who check the processing and storage of organic products, documents and feed (organic quality) as well as veterinary treatment methods.
The term “biohotel”, on the other hand, is not a protected term
What is often problematic is that the term “ biohotel ” is not protected . In principle, every hotel can call itself an organic hotel. It is therefore not mandatory for an organic hotel to strictly adhere to the principles mentioned above. Things get a little more complicated when some organic hotels also call themselves eco-hotels. For holidaymakers who attach particular importance to the organic component of a hotel, it is advisable to find out detailed information about the hotel and its offers in advance. As I said, even if the term biohotel implies the attribute "organic", this does not automatically mean that the facility actually follows an ecologically compatible model.
Organic seal
The state-controlled organic seal was introduced in Germany in 2001. You shouldn't be fooled by the term "natural food", which can also be conventionally produced.
Demeter and Bioland
The Bioland and Demeter association seals are controlled more strictly than required by EU organic regulations. With more than 6,000 companies and over 1,000 Bioland partners, Bioland is Germany's most important association for sustainable farming. Up to 80 different control standards are tested here - from production to sales.
“GutBio” eco-label at Aldi
The “GutBio” seal is Aldi’s own brand for, among other things, cucumbers, potatoes and bananas, which are said to come from controlled organic production. However, these products only have to comply with the EU organic regulations and therefore do not have the same quality as the seals from Demeter or Bioland. The Aldi organic seal does not mean that this is a regional product. The “GutBio” seal is also not a sign of environmental friendliness.
EU organic label
The EU organic label also describes imported products from non-EU countries as certified organic goods, even if organic production is not always fully proven.
Supermarkets own brands
Many supermarkets' own brands advertise with terms such as "from home" or "regional" and "close to nature". However, this often has little or nothing to do with organic regulations and their controls. There is no legal protection here and the potential for misuse is of course enormous.
Photo credits
Logo "Euro-Blatt", (EU organic seal): Dusan Milenkovic, European Commission
Bioland: www.bioland.de
Demeter: www.demeter.de
Organic seal EC organic regulation: www.oekolandbau.de
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