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Acidified Sodium Chlorite (2024 Sunset Handling)

Sunset Survey

This survey is administered by the Organic Trade Association to assess the necessity/essentiality of substances used in organic production and processing that are undergoing NOSB Sunset Review. The information collected will be passed along to NOSB anonymously via the Organic Trade Association’s comments. Please do not include any confidential business information. For more information on the NOSB Meeting and comment opportunities, please visit OTA.com/NOSB.

This survey is for the substance ACIDIFIED SODIUM CHLORITE
§205.605(b)
Allowed for secondary direct antimicrobial food treatment and indirect food contact surface sanitizing. Acidified with citric acid only. Permitted direct food contact includes: poultry carcass, organs and parts; red meat carcass, organs and parts, seafood (finfish and crustaceans), and fruits and vegetables (raw and further processed); processed, comminuted or formed meat products.
1.Is your operation certified organic?
2.Is acidified sodium chlorite (ASC) included in your organic system plan?
3.Which types of organic products do you use ASC in/on? (e.g., yogurt, fruit juices, baked goods, etc.)
4.What function does ASC provide in/on your organic products and why is it essential? (e.g., stabilizer, thickener, flavor, sanitizer, etc.)
5.With what frequency does your operation use ASC? (e.g., seldom, as needed when a certain condition arises, routinely, etc.)
6.NOSB collects information about the "ancillary substances" (e.g. carriers, preservatives, stabilizers) that may be used to formulate commercial forms of the substance. Are there ancillary substances used in ASC?
7.Have you tried using any other substances as an alternative to ASC? (e.g. other natural or organic substances)
8.Are there any other management practices that would eliminate the need for ASC?
9.How would your organic handling be impacted if ASC was no longer allowed? (describe the effects on product quality, economic effects, environment effects, or human health effects)
10.The Handling Subcommittee encourages current users of acidified sodium chlorite to provide detailed comments describing the situations in which it is the most appropriate or effective antimicrobial for a given application.
11.On a scale from 1 to 5 stars, rate the overall necessity of ASC for your organic operation:
Unnecessary (don’t need it at all)
Neutral (nice to have but could live without it)
Critical (would leave organic without it)
12.You are strongly encouraged to submit your own comments to NOSB. See ota.com/nosb for instructions. 

If you would like assistance or guidance in submitting comments to NOSB, please contact Gwendolyn Wyard at gwyard@ota.com or provide your contact information below and OTA will contact you directly.