While it's a common misconception that all of a company's products must be certified organic to label themselves as having organic practices, the reality is more complex. Standard Process strategically controls its supply chain to ensure product quality, primarily through its certified organic farmland. This hands-on approach allows them to manage everything from soil health to pest management. For ingredients that cannot be grown on their own farm, Standard Process has rigorous vendor qualification and testing standards in place to ensure quality.
The Standard Process Difference: A Commitment to Organic Farming
The cornerstone of Standard Process's organic claims lies in its 420-acre, certified organic farm in Palmyra, Wisconsin. This dedicated farmland is managed to foster healthy, organic-rich soil through methods that include:
- Extensive crop rotation: Prevents nutrient depletion and helps manage pests naturally.
- Composting and organic fertilizing: Provides nutrient-dense, chemical-free soil.
- Biodynamic agriculture principles: A holistic approach that goes beyond standard organic certification.
- Green manure rotation: Utilizes cover crops to enrich soil and improve fertility.
The farm is subject to annual monitoring by certifying agencies, ensuring compliance with strict organic growing guidelines. This vertical integration of farming and manufacturing gives Standard Process a unique degree of control over the raw ingredients in its whole-food supplements, unlike many competitors who rely solely on third-party suppliers.
Rigorous Quality Control from Farm to Bottle
Beyond just farming practices, Standard Process applies extensive quality control measures throughout its manufacturing process. The company performs over 1,000 tests on its products to guarantee potency and safety. This level of testing and oversight is a key differentiator from other supplement brands. The company's commitment to quality is evident in several areas:
- Ingredient Sourcing: Ingredients not grown on the farm are sourced from trusted, vetted partners who must also meet Standard Process's stringent quality standards.
- Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs): The company adheres strictly to the FDA's GMPs for dietary supplements, ensuring consistency and quality in manufacturing.
- Final Product Testing: Finished products are tested for contaminants, potency, and label accuracy before being released.
Whole Food vs. Synthetic Supplements: The Organic Context
The debate over whole-food versus synthetic supplements is central to understanding Standard Process's position. Synthetic supplements, which are created in a laboratory, are chemically identical to their natural counterparts but lack the synergistic co-factors and micronutrients found in whole foods. Standard Process's focus on whole-food concentrates, derived from organically grown sources, aims to provide a more complete nutritional profile.
Whole Food vs. Synthetic Supplements
| Feature | Standard Process (Whole Food) | Synthetic Supplements |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Plant and animal whole-food concentrates | Laboratory-synthesized chemicals |
| Ingredient Purity | Primarily sourced from certified organic farm; rigorously tested external sources | Purity dependent on lab and manufacturing standards |
| Nutrient Profile | Contains a full spectrum of vitamins, minerals, and synergistic co-factors | Contains isolated vitamins or minerals only |
| Bioavailability | High; nutrients are easily recognized and absorbed by the body | Variable; absorption can be less efficient due to missing co-factors |
| GMO Status | Non-GMO; prohibited on certified organic farmland | May contain GMO derivatives unless certified non-GMO |
| Manufacturing Oversight | Controls farming and manufacturing processes internally | Relies on third-party labs and ingredient suppliers |
Understanding the USDA Organic Label for Supplements
The USDA's National Organic Program (NOP) sets clear standards for organic claims on supplements, but it's not a mandatory certification. This is a crucial distinction. A product can be labeled as:
- "100% Organic": Made with 100% certified organic ingredients.
- "Organic": Contains at least 95% certified organic ingredients.
- "Made with Organic Ingredients": Contains at least 70% certified organic ingredients.
While Standard Process grows a significant portion of its ingredients organically, not all products may meet the 95% threshold for the official USDA organic seal, often due to the inclusion of naturally sourced but uncertifiable ingredients like certain minerals or animal extracts. This is why consumers should look for specific organic claims on individual products, rather than assuming all products are fully certified.
The Role of Transparency and Quality
Standard Process's use of its own farm and rigorous testing procedures for externally sourced ingredients demonstrates a strong commitment to transparency and quality, even without the USDA seal on every product. For many consumers and health professionals, the company's internal standards, which often exceed federal requirements, are a greater assurance of quality than a simple label.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the question "Are Standard Process supplements organic?" has a nuanced answer. While not every single product carries the official USDA Organic seal, the company maintains a robust commitment to organic principles. By growing the vast majority of its plant-based ingredients on its own certified organic farm, and implementing rigorous quality controls for all materials, Standard Process offers whole-food supplements that are rooted in organic farming practices. The emphasis on whole-food nutrition and quality distinguishes their products from many synthetic, lab-produced alternatives on the market, providing consumers with a trustworthy option for natural supplementation.
What is the difference between “certified organic” and “organic ingredients” on a supplement label? A: The USDA requires a product to be made with at least 95% certified organic ingredients to carry the "Certified Organic" seal on the front of the packaging. Products with the phrase "Made with Organic Ingredients" contain a minimum of 70% certified organic ingredients.
Source of Ingredients: Standard Process grows the majority of its plant-based ingredients on its own certified organic farm.
Commitment to Whole-Food: Standard Process focuses on whole-food concentrates rather than synthetic, isolated nutrients.
Quality Control: The company performs over 1,000 quality tests on its products to ensure safety and potency.
USDA Certification: While Standard Process uses certified organic ingredients, not all of their final products carry the USDA Organic seal, as they may not meet the 95% threshold due to other whole-food components.
Beyond Organic: Standard Process farming incorporates sustainable and regenerative practices, such as biodynamic methods, that often go beyond the baseline requirements of organic certification.
