Organic private label brands: what’s behind organic food in supermarkets?
Many consumers choose organic private label brands in supermarkets, such as REWE Bio, Aldi Bio, EDEKA Bio and BioBio. But are these “real” organic products, or simply marketing labels? We answer the most important questions about retailer’s own organic labels and explain how they compare with Demeter, Bioland and similar labels.
- Organic private label products must meet the same legal requirements as any other organic food.
- All organic businesses are inspected by independent control bodies at least once a year.
- Organic private-label products are often more affordable because retailers manage the supply chain themselves. A lower price does not mean lower quality. ät.
Are REWE Bio, Aldi Bio and similar brands “genuine” organic products?
Yes. The same legal requirements apply to all foods sold as “organic” or “eco”, regardless of the brand under which they appear on the shelf. An organic private label brand must meet at least the same legal requirements as any other organic food, whether it is a retailer’s brand or a manufacturer’s brand.
The term “organic” is protected
Unlike terms such as “natural”, “sustainable” or “climate-friendly”, “organic” (and “bio”) as well as “eco” (and “ecologic”) are legally defined and protected. They may be used only where a food product has been produced, processed and labelled in accordance with the EU Organic Regulation. For consumers, this means that “organic” is a binding standard and not a voluntary marketing claim.
Ranking of the most popular organic food brands in Germany in 2025
| REWE Bio | 49% |
| EDEKA Bio | 48% |
| Alnatura | 44% |
| dmBio | 44% |
| Demeter | 41% |
| Berchtesgadener Land | 36% |
| BioBio | 32% |
| Bioland | 31% |
| Zwergenwiese | 29% |
| Rapunzel | 28% |
What does the EU organic logo mean – and what if further labels are displayed?
Every pre-packaged organic food product sold in the EU must carry the EU organic logo, including organic private label brands. This is required by law and guarantees that the manufacturer complies with the requirements of the EU Organic Regulation. There are also organic farming associations such as Demeter, Bioland and Naturland. Their own requirements – for example on animal livestock farming or fertilisation – often go beyond the legal standard.
If a product displays a label from an organic farming association alongside the EU organic logo, it meets both: the legal standard and the criteria of the respective association. The private label brand itself nevertheless remains “fully fledged” organic. In all cases, it meets the legal standard. Whether additional criteria from an organic farming association apply depends on the individual product.
Who checks that private label brands are genuinely organic?
Businesses that produce or process organic food are regularly checked by government-approved, independent organic control bodies once a year.
The control-body code on the packaging (for example “DE-ÖKO-001”) identifies the control body responsible for the business that carried out the most recent production or preparation step. The code confirms that the product is subject to the legally required organic control system.
Which manufacturers produce organic private label brands?
The manufacturer of a particular product can vary depending on the retailer and the product.
However, the same legal requirements and controls apply to all organic products, regardless of the manufacturer.
Why are organic private label brands often less expensive than branded organic products?
The price of an organic product depends on a range of factors. For their private label brands, retailers can manage the entire supply chain and often do not need to invest heavily in brand advertising. This can contribute to lower retail prices.
A higher price does not automatically mean that an organic product is of better quality.
How to recognise genuine organic products when shopping
Look for three features:
- The EU organic logo (the green leaf made up of stars).
- A control-body code (for example “DE-ÖKO-XXX”).
- The term “organic” or “eco” on the packaging.
Organic private label brands are not “organic light”: They meet the same legal requirements of the EU Organic Regulation as any other organic product.
If you want to be sure, look for the EU organic logo and the control-body code on the packaging.
