Table 1.
Certain nonorganic, nonagricultural antimicrobials, additives, and preservatives designated by the USDA as allowable in organic RTE meat products A.
| Substance | Synthetic | Nonsynthetic | Use | Specifications and Restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acids, citric and lactic | + | Acidifier, preservative, flavoring, antimicrobial [23] | When produced through microbial fermentation. | |
| Food-grade microorganisms | + | Fermentation and sensory development, antimicrobial | Bacteria, fungi. | |
| Yeast | + | Fermentation and sensory development |
Must be organic if end use is for human consumption, nonorganic if not commercially available. Cannot be grown on a petrochemical substrate or sulfite waste liquor. If smoked yeast, nonsynthetic smoke flavoring process must be documented. |
|
| Acidified sodium chloride | + | Antimicrobial | Secondary direct antimicrobial food treatment and indirect food contact surface sanitizing. Acidified with citric acid only. | |
| Ascorbic acid | + | Antioxidant, antimicrobial [24] | ||
| Calcium phosphates | + | Fluid retention [25] | Monobasic, dibasic, and tribasic. | |
| Calcium hypochlorite | + | Antimicrobial [26] | ||
| Collagen gel | + | Casing material | Casing, may be used when organic collagen gel is not commercially available. | |
| Ozone | + | Antimicrobial | ||
| Peracetic acid/peroxyacetic acid | + | Antimicrobial | For use in wash and/or rinse water according to FDA limitations; for use as a sanitizer on food contact surfaces. | |
| Phosphoric acid | + | Antimicrobial (surfaces only) | Cleaning of food contact surfaces and equipment only. | |
| Potassium citrate | + | Fluid retention [27] | ||
| Potassium lactate | + | Fluid retention [27] | Antimicrobial agent and pH regulator only. | |
| Potassium phosphate | + | Fluid retention | For use only in products labeled “made with organic…” | |
| Sodium citrate | + | Acidifier, preservative, flavoring, antimicrobial | ||
| Sodium lactate | + | Acidifier, preservative, flavoring, antimicrobial | Antimicrobial agent and pH regulator only. | |
| Tocopherols | + | Antioxidant | Derived from vegetable oil when rosemary extracts are not a suitable alternative. | |
| Xanthan gum | + | Thickening agent, emulsion stabilizer, fat replacer [28] |
A For more information on these products, please see 7 CFR § 205.605.