This species of red algae was found near Monterey, California. (Steve Lonhart / NOAA MBNMS)
(CN) — In keeping with the European Union’s narrow definition of what foods can be labeled as organic, Europe’s highest court on Thursday found calcium sourced from marine algae needs to be classified as a mineral and therefore cannot be added to organic soy and rice drinks.
The European Court of Justice’s ruling is a blow to makers of plant-based drinks that often use calcium-rich algae to sell their products as rich in calcium and providing similar benefits to dairy milk.
The ruling came against Natumi, a German organic food company whose soy and rice drinks contain calcium derived from Lithothamnium calcareum, a red coral seaweed made up mostly of calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate. Natumi adds ground dry algae powder to its drinks.