Listing and annotation: Potassium hydroxide—prohibited for use in lye peeling of fruits and vegetables except when used for peeling peaches
Use: As a synthetic non-agricultural product allowed as an ingredient/processing aid in or on products labeled "organic" or "made with (specified organic ingredients/food groups)".
Common applications: An alkali used to extract color from annatto seed, a peeling agent for tubers and fruits, also in cacao products. Used as a pH adjuster, stabilizer, thickener and poultry scald agent. Main foods are chicken, cocoa, coloring agents, ice cream and black olives. Also used in the process of making soap.
Reference: 7 CFR 205.605(b)
Sunset Date: 5/29/2018