These days its hard to know if product labeling by third party certifying agencies are legitimate or if they completely miss the mark. Sometimes product labels, meant to imply a third party certification or instill consumer trust, end up going terribly wrong. In 2009 a high profile cereal company used a "Smart Choices" check mark label which appeared to imply that the cereal was a healthy option but this third party labeling program was heavily criticized as being flawed when it gave its stamp of approval to some foods, including this popular breakfast cereal, that were high in sugar and not considered nutritious choices. Critics said the criteria used by the Smart Choices Program were seriously flawed. They argued that that sugar heavy cereals and heavily salted packaged meals should not be considered healthy choices and win its seal of approval. The cereal company received fierce pushback on the unclear labeling and they eventually pulled it. For a smaller company this kind of loss of trust and consumer confidence can be fatal to the company.
“Certified organic” has long been a coveted achievement for a product or product line, but even this in recent years has become confusing as to what exactly this means. Product labeling such as “certified organic” can greatly boost customer confidence and trust in the product, increase market access and opportunities, create a perception of higher quality and create a competitive advantage over any competitors.
So what does it really mean when a product achieves the “certified organic” labeling? The term "organic" in the context of food, botanicals and natural product production refers to a method of farming, manufacturing and/or processing that promotes a rigorous standard for quality and safety, ecological balance, biodiversity, and resource conservation. Organic certification within the United States is strictly regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the National Organic Program (NOP). To be clear there are certain factors that make it impossible for some products to achieve this labeling even though those products are produced and /or manufactured at an equally or even higher standard. For a product to be labeled as organic, it must still meet strict guidelines including these:
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Avoidance of Synthetic Chemicals: Organic farming for example avoids the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers.
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No Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs): Organic products cannot contain GMOs.
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Sustainable Practices: Organic farming practices must promote soil health, water conservation, and biodiversity.
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Animal Welfare: Animals must be raised in conditions that allow for natural behaviors, and without the use of antibiotics or growth hormones.
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Third-Party Certification: Organic producers must undergo certification by an accredited third-party agency to verify compliance and answer to the USDA organic standards.
In general the “certified organic” guidelines in the United States aim to promote sustainable farming practices, protect the environment, and provide consumers with high-quality, chemical-free food.
So Why Can't Bee Products be Labeled as Organic, I don’t Understand?
The ability for Bee products, such as propolis, royal jelly and bee pollen to achieve the coveted labeling level of “certified organic” is generally unachievable. Its not for a lack of trying or lacking in quality and safety standards in the relatively non-invasive harvesting of the bee products and the subsequent refining and manufacturing processes but rather for some very unexpected reasons.
Bee products such as propolis, royal jelly and bee pollen present unique challenges when it comes to organic certification. The main reasons are:
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Foraging Range of Bees: Bees have a large foraging range, often extending several miles from their hives. This makes it difficult to ensure and prove to a certifying agency that bees only gather nectar and pollen from organic plants even though this is generally true.
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Environmental Contaminants: Even if a beekeeper practices organic methods locally at the hives that they manage, environmental contaminants such as pesticides and pollutants can still affect bee products. Bees may come into contact with these substances while foraging, and this can be almost impossible to prove to the certifying agency.
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Lack of Clear Standards: The USDA has established detailed standards for the organic certification of many agricultural products, but the specific guidelines for bee products are less comprehensive. This lack of clear, enforceable standards contributes to the nearly impossible threshold in certifying bee products as organic.
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Complexity of Bee Behavior: Monitoring and controlling bee behavior to ensure they only interact with organic flora is practically unfeasible. Bees are wild insects and their natural behavior is not easily regulated or monitored by human intervention.
So although consumers often associate organic labels with higher quality and environmentally friendly practices, the absence of an organic label on bee products shouldn’t lead to the perception that these products are less natural or more contaminated than other “organic” foods. Quite the opposite is true for companies like Beehive Botanicals that use other methods to ensure quality and safety. It is actually quite rare for these products to achieve the “certified organic” labeling within the United States. Companies like Beehive Botanicals make up for this with other national level certifications and all raw materials and finished goods are tested for purity, potency and composition.
Alternative certifications such as “Alkemist Assured” labeling also helps build trust between producers and consumers. Because of the unfeasibility of achieving “certified organic” our consumers also rely on the reputation and transparency of our quality control NSF certification facility and our processes that adhere to certified Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP). Because of our high standards, our botanicals manufacturing facility (www.beehivebotanicals.net) is able to manufacture “private label” non-bee related botanical products and nutritional supplements that in turn do achieve “certified organic” labeling through the “Midwest Organic Services Organization” (MOSA). In addition, our facilities undergo vigorous periodic audits encompassing every aspect of the manufacturing process.
Summary / Conclusion:
While bee products like propolis, royal jelly and bee pollen cannot be labeled as organic due to the challenges of controlling bee foraging behavior and environmental contaminants, it does not mean that these products are of lower quality or less natural. Understanding the complexities of organic certification helps consumers make informed decisions and appreciate the efforts of beekeepers who still strive to produce high-quality, environmentally conscious products despite the regulatory limitations.
The best way to mitigate any safety concerns and ensure that the listed potency of supplements are believable to the consumer is through good labeling and certification processes. These are key to the consumer both to know that the supplement will produce the desired health benefits and that the consumer knows the supplement will be safe. The cRc Kosher, NSF, and cGMP marks symbolizes truth and transparency in the claims made for products and the assurance that the product was manufactured in a safe and sanitary manner.
About Beehive Botanicals:
Beehive Botanicals nutritional supplements are produced in an cGMP and NSF-certified facility. Beehive Botanicals tests all raw materials and finished goods for purity, potency and composition. For more information about the natural products like bee propolis, royal jelly and bee pollen that Beehive Botanicals retails, you can contact Beehive Botanicals via their website at beehivebotanicals.com or call directly at 800-233-4483. For questions about our supplement and botanical manufacturing services please visit our website at beehivebotanicals.net or call directly at 800-233-4483.
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Any products mentioned in this article are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.