This report presents science highlighting the benefits of spices and teas when produced according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic standards – from worker safety to the social equity and economic prosperity of those involved in their production, and ultimately, the consumer.
Spices and teas are unique because many are grown outside of the United States and imported for consumption. Extra steps must be taken abroad to uphold USDA’s organic standards, from field to processing, before importation. Because of the global and historical roots of the tea and spice trade, consumer choices have an impact on the prosperity of rural communities abroad where spices and teas are harvested.
Presented November 16, 2022 1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. ET
Teas, herbs, and spices have been prized for their medicinal and culinary uses for millennia. But when you concentrate botanical ingredients to capture their beneficial attributes, undesirable traces can make their way in. Organic certification practices ensure synthetic ingredients are not used in the making of these products, and in some respects can even enhance their quality. By choosing organic teas, herbs, and spices, you also vote for healthier working conditions and improved livelihoods for farmworkers and their communities. Find out how by joining The Organic Center’s Director of Science Programs, Amber Sciligo, PhD, along with industry spice and tea experts for a live webinar and behind-the-scenes look exploring the fascinating science and trade of your favorite soothing, healing, and flavor-enhancing ingredients.
This report provides a better understanding of how choosing organic spices, herbs, and teas from responsible producers can help mitigate consumer health concerns from pesticide residues and other impurities in their consumption, improve the health and safety of rural communities, and promote sustainability and environmental stewardship.
The Organic Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit research and education organization based out of Washington D.C. Our mission is to conduct and convene credible, evidence-based science on the environmental and health effects of organic food and farming and communicate the findings to the public.