- Why doesn't Eden Foods use the USDA Organic Seal on its packages?
- Who is Eden's organic certifier?
- Are any EDEN foods grown with the use of sodium nitrate, also called Chilean nitrate?
- Why doesn't Eden Foods use the 'Non-GMO Project Verified' seal on labels?
- Why doesn't Eden provide the Daily Values (DVs) for all nutrients in the Nutrition Facts Panel?
- How do you read date codes on EDEN packages?
- Do EDEN items contain traces of glyphosate?
- Is your facility free of allergens?
- Is EDEN organic quinoa made in a nut free facility?
- Does Eden use any chemical additives, preservatives, or chemical or Genetically Engineered derived 'processing aides' in any of its foods?
- Does Eden control retail prices at the store levels?
- Are EDEN foods or their ingredients ever subjected to food irradiation?
- Are Eden Foods Organic?
- What percentage of EDEN Foods are United States and North American grown?
- Do any EDEN Foods contain dairy derivatives, eggs, gelatin, or animal by products?
- Does Eden employ Quality Control measures to ensure safe and consistent food?
- Does Eden conduct tours for the public?
- Why does Eden carry foods that are kosher?
- What does Eden know about the recent claims of sea salt having plastic in it?
Why doesn't Eden Foods use the USDA Organic Seal on its packages?
USDA Organic represents an 'organic certification system' that is a very liberal and permissive paperwork system. It is managed by bureaucrats whose primary goal has been to make the production of organic food easy and cheap by accommodating "allowable" chemicals, and even GMOs in organic agriculture, food processing, and packaging. Even though all organic EDEN food is grown, handled, and processed in ways that meet and exceed requirements for USDA organic certification and using the USDA Organic Seal on its labels, the law does not require use of the USDA Organic Seal. Eden Foods does not choose to use this USDA Organic Seal on its organic food labels because it does not represent the integrity and transparency that people expect for their organic food. The USDA Organic Seal does not represent Eden Foods' meticulous high standards for organic food, in practice or in spirit. For more information, please read EDEN Integrity and Why Eden Foods chooses not to use the USDA seal.
Who is Eden's organic certifier?
Eden Foods' organic certifier is the Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA). We are certified under the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) and also to the terms of the US-Canada Organic Equivalency Arrangement as stated on our OCIA organic certificate.
Are any EDEN foods grown with the use of sodium nitrate, also called Chilean nitrate?
Eden has always been opposed to the use of sodium nitrate, even though the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) currently allows it for organic agriculture. A condition for certification to the US-Canada Organic Equivalency Arrangement is that agricultural products not be grown with the use of sodium nitrate. Chilean nitrate provides nitrogen easily and relatively cheaply, but it also stresses and depletes life, or bioactivity in the soil. The avoidance of sodium nitrate distinguishes EDEN foods from other USA organic foods.
Why doesn't Eden Foods use the 'Non-GMO Project Verified' seal on labels?
The Eden label means GMO Free. Since 1993 Eden has diligently created a system that totally avoids genetically engineered food, organisms, or their derivatives. The GMO industry and USDA want us to believe that commercial scale Non-GMO food is impossible, because they have thoroughly and intentionally polluted the food supply. EDEN foods are proof that Non-GMO food is doable. We have the records, tests, and foods that demonstrate it. Doing this is a very, very substantial burden upon Eden Foods and people that want to avoid GMOs. The Non-GMO Project (The Project) was created by members from all sectors of the food industry in the U.S.A. and Canada. The Project works to provide consumers and makers a third-party Non-GMO verification program through all levels of the supply chain. Eden Foods' president, Michael Potter is one of eleven governing members of its board of directors who have been involved in initiating, funding, and writing standards for The Project. The Project is North America's first independent Non-GMO verification program utilizing on-site facility audits, documents, systems reviews, and DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing of all materials at risk for GMO contamination. To view EDEN foods that are verified or are being verified by the Non-GMO Project, visit edenfoods.com/verified
Why doesn't Eden provide the Daily Values (DVs) for all nutrients in the Nutrition Facts Panel?
A Nutrition Facts Panel (NFP) is required on all food labels by the FDA. The nutrients required to be listed on labels are: Calories, Calories from fat, Total Fat, Saturated Fat, Trans Fat, Cholesterol, Sodium, Total Carbohydrate, Dietary Fiber, Sugars, Protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Calcium, and Iron. All other nutrients such as Polyunsaturated and Monounsaturated Fat, Potassium, Vitamins D, K, and B, magnesium, etc. are voluntary. They are not required to be listed on the NFP, unless a nutrient claim is made on the label or a nutrient has been added to the food. Voluntary nutrients may be listed at the discretion of the manufacturer in a prescribed, statute defined manner. If Calories from fat, Saturated fat, Trans fat, Cholesterol, Sugars, Vitamin A and C, Calcium, and Iron are present in the food at insignificant levels (zero % Daily Value (DV)), a manufacturer may omit listing them on the NFP, but they must be expressed in a disclaimer as a footnote at the bottom of the NFP by naming all the ingredients with 0% DVs. Footnote Example: "Not a significant source of saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sugars, vitamin A and C, calcium, and iron." Some foods are exempt from including a Nutrition Facts Panel, such as coffee, tea, and spices as they are considered to contain 'insignificant levels of nutrients'. If you have specific questions regarding a nutrient that is listed or not listed on the label of any EDEN food, please contact Eden Customer Service at 888-424-3336 or email customerservice@edenfoods.com. We will share with you the information that we have about the nutrient of interest to you. Mind you, we do not test for everything.
How do you read date codes on EDEN packages?
Many EDEN foods are marked with a "best before" date code. This code starts with the "best before" year's 4 digits, followed by a two-letter month abbreviation, and then the day of the month. "Best Before" dates will vary in duration from item to item as determined by each item's recommended shelf life.
Best Before date code example: 2017MA05 1. Best before 2017 2. In the month of May (MA) 3. On the 5th (05) day. Month - Two Letter Abbreviations
- JA January
- FE February
- MR March
- AL April
- MA May
- JN June
- JL July
- AU August
- SE September
- OC October
- NO November
- DE December
Some EDEN foods use both a Best Before date code as above, and a simple Julian Date Code that is used by the industry to track production dates. A few items use only the Julian Date Code. The Julian calendar consecutively numbers the days of the year so that January 1st is 001, on through December 31st as 365.
Julian Date Code Example: 4182, 14182, or 41821 1. The first digit (4) or two digits (14) would be the last digit or two of the year: 2014 2. The next three digits (182) are the 182nd day of the year 2014, which was July 1st. 3. A final digit, if used, signifies a batch number when used with a 4 digit Julian Date Code
Please refer to the following conversion chart for a perpetual Julian Date Calendar (pdf).
Foods that Eden imports from Japan are printed with a shipment number code. This is used to trace the item's shipment date, and batch or lot number. Please contact Eden Customer Service at 888-424-3336 or email customerservice@edenfoods.com for help in determining when a product was shipped from or made by one of our Japanese traditional manufacturers.
Do EDEN items contain traces of glyphosate?
Man-made toxins are pervasive. Millions upon millions of tons have been injected into the environment for over eighty years. They pollute all life on Earth, the air, water, and land.
It is impossible for anyone to honestly assure you that 'trace' amounts of the most common of these pollutants, glyphosate, is not present in anything at 'trace' amounts, even those items that are carrying prominent graphics declaring they are 'glyphosate free'. Foods that are grown in certain geographic areas where glyphosate is massively used may be contaminated with it by rainwater. Testing to five parts per billion does nothing to ensure absence of 'trace' amounts. Eden Foods' more thorough, complete system approach has the best results in achieving pure food.
A related big issue is that GMOs are common in organic food, because of USDA / Organic Trade Association skullduggery. Eden's level of avoiding GMOs is, and has been, the standard in American natural foods circles.
Eden Foods does everything that we possibly can to obtain pure foods for customers and ourselves. This includes periodic, random laboratory testing for residues. No company works harder, smarter, or has greater experience than Eden Foods in accomplishing this work. No other company or organization devotes a higher percentage of its cash flow to this task. Nothing compares, not even close.
We work with people in identifying farmland that has been managed organically long-term. Healthy soil produces better food. We know our growers well. They use third-party certifiers who work with Eden standards, require an audit trail, and provide deep transparency. Learning what motivates the grower is important to us, and a key part in having confidence in them.
Is your facility free of allergens?
It is in the areas, and at the times, that we want it to be. Eden Foods is highly proactive where it comes to allergens. Policies and systems/programs to prevent allergen contamination of non-allergen food items at our facilities are as follows:
1. Eden Foods's Food Safety program includes an Allergen Control Plan that is regularly reviewed and updated as necessary
2. Eden HACCP (hazard analysis critical control point) plans include the identification of allergens and their control from receiving through handling, packaging, and storage, the entire time they are in our possession
3. Allergen awareness training and re-training for employees, supervisors, and management
4. Allergen color code tags to identify allergens by name when ingredients are received and stored
5. Segregation of allergen foods by type of allergen from non-allergen foods in storage and in handling to prevent allergen cross-contact
6. Dedicated, and allergen color coded, utensils and containers (paddles, scoops, buckets, etc.)
7. Documented production scheduling designed to maintain maximum separation of allergen items from non-allergen items
8. Proper and thorough cleaning of production and handling equipment immediately after an allergen containing run, followed by documented Quality Control Department allergen swab tests to ensure equipment is returned to "free of allergens" condition
9. Allergen surveys and inspections of Eden suppliers to review the presence of allergens and supplier practices to avoid cross-contact with allergens that may be present
10. Allergen ingredients are clearly identified on all Eden Foods' labels
11. Quality Control Department oversight of each production run to assure that correct labels are being used for every item, and that employees are thoroughly following allergen control procedures
12. Third-party, government regulatory, and food safety audits of Eden's Allergen Control Plan and documented practices to ensure compliance with food safety regulations and properly functional standards
13. Foods identified as gluten-free are regularly and randomly tested by a most reputable laboratory to ensure that gluten is not present at the low detection limits of either 10 ppm or 5 ppm depending upon what product is being tested
Is EDEN organic quinoa made in a nut free facility?
EDEN organic nuts (almonds, pistachios) are packaged on the same packaging equipment that is used to package EDEN organic quinoa. After packaging a nut product and then thoroughly cleaning equipment, a Quality Control (QC) swab test is conducted on the equipment to assure that there is no remaining nut protein residue.
Does Eden use any chemical additives, preservatives, or chemical or Genetically Engineered derived 'processing aides' in any of its foods?
No. We choose not to and make sure all ingredients are natural too.
Does Eden control retail prices at the store levels?
Based upon what we pay farmers and employees, Eden Foods sets a price for its foods. We have no control over prices charged to retailers or consumers except on our web sites.
Are EDEN foods or their ingredients ever subjected to food irradiation?
No EDEN food or ingredient is ever irradiated by Eden Foods or by any of our suppliers. Eden Foods banned irradiated food and ingredients on August 13, 1988. Subjecting food to irradiation's adventurous chemical creations and random DNA and RNA manipulation never did make sense to us. Food irradiation allows the marketing of old and mishandled foods that without it could never be sold as it is. Please read our Irradiation Free statement.
Are Eden Foods Organic?
80% of EDEN Foods are double certified organic; USDA and Eden Foods' systems of ensuring organic authenticity. Organic today is not the criteria it once was. USDA organic is a national embarrassment. Some Japanese imported Macrobiotic specialty food, Spanish extra virgin olive oil, and Midwest red wine vinegar are not certified organic even though they are the finest that can be found. It does not always make sense for Eden's artisan manufacturers to pursue lackluster organic certifications.
What percentage of EDEN Foods are United States and North American grown?
Approximately 75 percent of EDEN Foods are organically grown on more than 370 family farms of North America with over 86,000 acres of vibrant farmland, and growing every year.
Do any EDEN Foods contain dairy derivatives, eggs, gelatin, or animal by products?
None of our foods contain dairy derivatives, eggs, gelatin, or animal derived by-products. Our teabags are crimped sealed and are not glued.
Does Eden employ Quality Control measures to ensure safe and consistent food?
Yes. Every food offered by Eden is subject to numerous detailed and stringent Quality Control (QC) procedures. Eden's United States facilities are inspected and rated by strict third party AIB International inspectors. Eden's consistent high ratings reflect a deep, company wide commitment to food safety, sanitation, and HACCP management programs. One example is EDENSOY, with over 240 quality control checks to ensure a consistent and safe product. In addition to the guards and monitors that are part of the machines, a package of soymilk is pulled from production every half hour and thoroughly tested in every regard to be sure it meets our stringent standards.
Does Eden conduct tours for the public?
Yes, on a limited basis, Click Here and complete request form. It is our desire to share the knowledge of what Eden Foods is doing with as many people as possible, but there are times when tours are not logistically possible due to staff availability, productions schedules or previous commitments in scheduling.
Our headquarters are in Clinton, Michigan. Our processing facilities are located in Clinton, Detroit, and Saline, Michigan; Eaton, Indiana; and Montreal, Quebec; so, a complete tour would require an enormous effort. Our customers and trading partners always receive priority.
Why does Eden carry foods that are kosher?
Because, due to our stringent purchasing disciplines they already were, so we had them certified. And yes, Eden is committed to offering certified kosher and pareve foods. In order for any food product to be certified kosher, its actual production must be Rabbinically supervised. The Rabbi visits on a regular basis. He inspects the machines prior to production and verifies that every step required by Jewish Law has been observed and fulfilled. Not all EDEN foods are kosher, but 91 percent are; and all kosher foods offered by Eden are certified and marked with a 
on the package.
What does Eden know about the recent claims of sea salt having plastic in it?
Recent reports about the accumulated pollution in the world's oceans have brought the plastic plague to the public's attention. Plastic is an enormous defilement issue, as are petrochemical textile fibers, radionuclides, and petrochemical toxins in the air, water, soil, and food. The oceans have been and remain food farms for humanity. Their misuse for easy profit has been very long-term and has exponentially expanded. No effective protecting of life, or quality of life, has even begun in any significant way.
Research from China and Spain found the amount of microplastic particles in commercial sea salt ranges from 50 to 660 microparticles per kilogram (2.2 lbs.) of salt. Although the oceans close to China appear to be the most problematic in regard to microplastic pollutants, it is unlikely that Chinese sea salt is the only contaminated sea salt in the world affected by this. Because microplastics originate from all lands inhabited by humans, the problem is likely systemic in sea salt sourced from most locations. Research has also found microplastic particles in salt from briny lakes, mined rock, and wells, but to a lesser degree.
According to reports, if a person were to consume Chinese sea salt at the maximum salt dose of less than 1 teaspoon (5 grams) per day for adults, recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), then a person would ingest about 1,000 microplastic particles annually. This amount is still far less than the estimated 11,000 particles of microplastics ingested annually in Europe by consumers of shellfish. This may be due to the fact that many plastics are denser than salt water and tend to sink to the ocean bottom, the natural habitat of shellfish, once buoyancy is lost. Microplastic particle counts are higher in bottom sediment than in water samples.
Plastic pollution is not limited to the world's oceans. Recent studies have shown how pervasive plastic pollution is in our environment with plastic particles being discovered in the air we breathe and the water we drink.
Eden Foods works to acquire and share the highest quality life-supporting foods. EDEN Portuguese and French Celtic Sea Salts are gathered from environmentally protected salt marshes of southern Algarve province of Portugal, and the Isle of Noirmoutier, Brittany, France, sources that have supplied the world with sea salt for millennia. These natural, hand harvested sea salts provide many benefits compared to refined salts that contain chemical processing additives and flowing agents. EDEN Sea Salts contains a wealth of rare trace minerals not found in refined salts. They are each produced using traditional methods that support the customary cultures and livelihood of the salt harvesters.
As part of Eden Foods' avoidance of plastic packaging, EDEN Portuguese and French Celtic sea salts are packed in glass jars. We strongly encourage everyone to avoid the use and purchase of plastic whenever possible.
For further information, please see the following articles.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749114002425?via%3Dihub