Originally published October 12 2005
Soil Association sets standards for UK organic products
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
The standards set up by the Soil Association aim to provide the public with products as natural as possible, which translates into minimum processing.
The Soil Association - the UK's leading certifier of organic products - launched standards for health and beautycare products in 2002 after three years' of development involving industry experts.
The standards aim to provide consumers with products that are as natural as possible, with minimum processing, and the Soil Association symbol assures consumers that products have been independently audited for organic authenticity.
Under Soil Association standards, natural preservatives and antibacterial ingredients are encouraged.
To prevent the fast spread of bacteria, natural processes are allowed, such as heat treatment, removing oxygen through vacuum packing, and ensuring a low water content.
A few chemical preservatives are allowed, but on a restricted basis and not if there are known concerns about health effects.
Ingredients and processes that are toxic or have detrimental effects on the environment - such as being non-biodegradable - are avoided.
A number of ingredients and processes are prohibited such as hydrogenated fat - this process of hardening fat is not allowed under organic food standards and is unnecessary in organic beauty products.
No petro-chemicals or GM ingredients are allowed, neither are the surfactants sodium lauryl sulphate and sodium laureth sulphate - due to consumer concerns over their safety and the possibility of the manufacturing process producing toxins.
Parabens are not permitted in healthcare products that carry the Soil Association's symbol.
Parabens are the most widely used chemical preservatives around the world and are used in a number of products such as baby lotions, children's shampoos, hair conditioners, hair styling gels, nail creams, foundations, facial masks, skin creams, and deodorants - a report found them in breast tumours.
Aluminium and zirconium, which have also been found in human breast tumours, are similarly not allowed under the standards.
Any animal products used must be from animals that have been bred under organic standards.
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