Not all Silk soy milk is organic, although the brand does offer several organic varieties of milk. Even if not all varieties of Silk soy milk are organic, they do share other similarities. All use soybeans grown in North America, all contain natural, plant-based ingredients, and all are Kosher and vegan.
Organic Line
Silk sells organic soy milk plain, vanilla and unsweetened varieties. All three are available in half-gallon containers and clearly marked as organic. Their price is higher than the other soy milks Silk produces due to the increased cost of farming soy beans organically. Silk's other milk products that are not specifically labeled as organic are not -- don't be fooled even if they are labeled as "natural."
Natural vs. Organic
Natural and organic do not mean the same thing when it comes to Silk soy milk, or any other food for that matter. Soy milk that is truly organic has to comply with strict government regulations that oversee the growth, handling and processing of the milk. Organic farms use no genetic modification in the soy bean and they also steer clear of chemical herbicides and pesticides. It instead relies on natural fertilizers, hand weeding and beneficial insects and birds to promote growth and deter weeds and pests. No regulations govern what can be labeled as "natural."
USDA Organic Seal
One easy way to spot certified organic foods that follow strict government regulations is by the green and white, circular USDA Organic seal. Use of the seal, however, is voluntary. Silk soy milk labeled as organic can still be organic even if it doesn't have the USDA Organic seal.
Natural Controversy
All Silk soy milk used to be organic until Dean Foods purchased the brand in 2009. Although Dean kept the organic label on the milk, the company slowly switched over to the cheaper, conventional and non-organic farming of soy beans. Because Dean Foods kept the same bar codes and labeling on Silk soy milk, consumers and even retailers were largely unaware of the switch for several months until organic watchdog groups, such as the Cornucopia Institute, exposed the switch.
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