Non-GMO and Organic Definitions and Ingredient Policy

Non-GMO and Organic Ingredient Definitions and Policy

Charlie Chestnut Bakehouse is committed to transparency and using ingredients that reflect the highest standards of quality and purity. Our policy ensures that our claims regarding Non-GMO and Organic ingredients are consistent with established North American regulatory and certification bodies.

I. Definitions

 Term Official Definition & Standard Relevance to Charlie Chestnut Bakehouse 

Non-GMO (Non-Genetically Modified Organism) Definition: An ingredient or product that has not been genetically engineered or modified in a laboratory. The standard aligns with the Non-GMO Project verification guidelines (or equivalent third-party testing). Our core goal is to source ingredients that are verified Non-GMO, including our primary Chestnut flour, wheat flour, sugars, eggs, and dairy, to provide a clean, unmodified product.

Organic Ingredient Definition: Ingredients grown and processed without the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, sewage sludge, irradiation, or genetic engineering. The standard is strictly defined and certified by the Canada Organic Regime (COR) and the USDA National Organic Program. We prioritize Certified Organic sourcing whenever feasible for quality, sustainability, and market availability, such as our commitment to Unbleached Organic Wheat Flour and specific sugars. 

Clean Label Definition: A marketing term (not a regulated standard) implying the product is made with recognizable, minimal, natural, and unprocessed ingredients.  This is our overarching brand philosophy. It means no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives are ever used in our bakehouse. 

II. Charlie Chestnut Bakehouse Ingredient Policy

Our policy dictates the sourcing hierarchy for all components in our frozen dough and baked cookies:

1.  Non-GMO is Mandatory: All ingredients used by Charlie Chestnut Bakehouse must be sourced from suppliers who can provide documentation confirming they are Non-GMO verified (or equivalent verification). This includes our key flavoring components, such as Madagascar Vanilla.
2.  Organic is Primary Goal: We commit to sourcing Certified Organic ingredients as a default choice across our supply chain, provided we can maintain the necessary quality, flavor profile, and ingredient security to produce a premium product.
3.  Unbleached Organic Wheat Flour: Where necessary for structural integrity alongside our chestnut flour, we mandate the use of Unbleached Organic Wheat Flour, ensuring our use of wheat is non-chemically treated and certified organic.
4.  Transparency: If any minor ingredient is not certified organic, we ensure to the best of our abilities that it remains Non-GMO verified and meets our strict Clean Label criteria.

III. Accountability

We require Certificates of Analysis (COAs) from all key ingredient suppliers and conduct regular reviews to ensure ongoing compliance with both our Non-GMO standards and our commitment to increasing the use of certified organic components.