Every time I browse the bulk food isle at Whole Foods (which is a must-do if you’re a foodie, even if you have no intention of ever buying 
), I wonder to myself:
Organic cloves? What’s the point in that? Does it really matter if it’s organic or not when you’re only 1/4 teaspoon at a time?
We scrutinized hydrogenated oils, even if it was in one cookie. Coffee creamer was completely banned. We turned our backs on conventional chicken, butter and eggs. Why should spices be any different?
The Great Debate
The topic of organic vs. non-organic spices is not new. Seasoned real foodies know this. Those who are new to the journey (like myself) are clueless.
Ten years ago, a news story on organic foods would have put most of us to sleep. If you weren’t snoozing, you cracked jokes at all those California hippy tree-hugging granolas who thought their food was tainted and the government was in on it.
Wow. Who knew they were right?
Sterilization
The United States produces only 40% of its annual spices needs, meaning 60% of the spices you see on store shelves are imported. This makes the U.S. the world’s largest spice importer and consumer.
With such a high rate of importation, the government has made it a requirement that all spices be sterilized in one of three ways in order to be sold in the US: fumigation, irradiation and steaming.
Fumigation: The cheapest and most common method used to sterilize spices. This process allows ethylene oxide gas to diffuse freely and permeate the spices. As a result, packages must be allowed to aerate after the treatment – since the treatment causes residue and it must dissipate before we consume it. Strangely, the USDA allows numerous chemicals to be used in the fumigation process, yet the European Union and Australia have deemed these same chemicals as hazardous. Products treated with this method are not required to be labeled as such.
Irradiation: This process is less harsh than fumigation since gamma rays (yes, radiation) can penetrate even high-density packaging. More good news is that irradiation does not create residues like fumigation, and aeration is not required. In other words, the harmful effects of treating the spices with radiation will be preserved for the consumer upon using the spice. The downside is that irradiation reduces the flavor of spices in the process. Products treated with this method are required to be labeled with the radura label.
Exceptions to the labeling include items that have been roasted, heat-treated or blended with other irradiated or non-irradiated spices or ingredients.
(Just to clarify, one irradiated item = labeled. Two irradiated items = not labeled.)
Steaming: Steaming is the only sterilization process approved for items to be certified organic. This method uses dry stream (a.k.a. very, very hot water) to destroy bacteria while retaining all the flavor of the spices. No chemicals, no radiation – just water.
But Wait, There’s More?
You may be getting more than you bargained for when purchasing non-organic spices. The FDA does not require spice manufacturers to label when they mix in other ingredients like flour, sugar, rice or salt to the spices. They don’t require the labeling of artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. They also do not require spices to be free of contaminants.
The American Spice Trade Association (ASTA) says that it’s basically impossible to grow, harvest and process crops (spices) that are totally free of natural defects.
Side note: I found this information via Simple Bites while researching. In an attempt to follow back to the original source, the page linked in the article is no longer valid. In order to now obtain the document outlining guidance in cleanliness, we must complete a form, on behalf of a company, and include our personal name(s) and email address(s). While the ASTA provides this document as a free download, it’s apparently comes at a cost.
Curious what “natural defects” are? Some include mold, poop (yep, poop) dead insects, rat hairs, wire, string and who knows what else.
Gross. Want to know more?
Up to 20% of the “spice” can be this icky, disgusting foreign matter. Makes you think twice when you reach for those cloves, eh?
A Better Option
Certified organic spices don’t have anything that they’re not supposed to. Buy a jar of organic cloves and that’s what you get – cloves.
On top of that, organic spice farmers are leading the way and helping to improve the lives of the farmers and their communities. Remember how much of our spices are imported? Countries like Sri Lanka and Madagascar and others in the Indian sub-continent, Southeast Asia and Central America work hard on their farms to produce the best spices possible. Farming is not an easy nor affluent occupation, and farming in second and third world countries is even tougher. Organic spice distributors tend to use fair-trade crop importation, making sure the farmers are paid fairly for their effort.
Doing it Ourselves
Instead of reaching for the pre-ground mixes of all-spice and pumpkin pie spice, let’s start making it ourselves.
If possible, buy spices whole and grind them yourself. This may be a little more expensive up front, but because fresh spices are more potent, we’ll end up using less. Plus it’ll still be cheaper than buying the pre-made version and we won’t be eating poo.
Homemade All-Spice
1 t freshly grated cinnamon
1 t freshly grated cloves
1 t freshly grated nutmegCombine all ingredients in a small glass jar and shake to mix well. Use within 6 months. Makes 3 teaspoons.
Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice
1 t freshly ground cinnamon
1/4 t freshly ground nutmeg
1/4 t freshly ground cloves
1/2 t freshly ground dried ginger
pinch cardamom (optional)Combine all ingredients in a small glass jar and shake to mix well. Use within 6 months. Makes approximately 2 teaspoons.
What’s your favorite holiday spice?
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Pumpkin Week: The Full Line-Up
Monday: About & Nutrition, Homemade Puree, Storage
Tuesday: Creamers, Green Smoothies and Flavorful Drinks
Wednesday: Organic Spics vs. Non-Organic and How-To Make Your Own
Thursday: Baking Breads, Cookies, Cakes and More
Friday: Food Wars (Homemade vs. Store-Bought) Puree, Creamer, Spices and Specialty Items
