Organic Hacho Miso - 12.1 oz. Eden Foods

Eden Foods Organic Hacho Miso - 12.1 oz (345 g)

Eden Foods Organic Hacho Miso is a more recent variety of miso made with whole brown rice instead of white rice. Until recently, it was unusual to produce miso made from whole brown rice as it was difficult for the koji aspergillus oryzae to penetrate the hard bran layer of the rice. It was found that by simply adjusting the milling machine (normally used for making white rice), to lightly scratch the bran surface of the rice removing only a small fraction of the bran enabled the koji to easily penetrate the bran, producing this high quality, nutritious brown rice miso. This is a major innovation since the intact bran layer of brown rice contains most of the health promoting vitamins, nutrients, minerals, and natural oils.

To make Eden Foods Organic Hacho Miso, the rice is steamed, cooled, inoculated with koji enzymes and allowed to incubate for about 40 hours. The inoculated rice is then mixed with cooked whole soybeans, the finest sea salt, and pure water in cedar wood kegs. Eden Foods Organic Hacho Miso is then aged under a wooden lid, piled high with a pyramid of smooth river stones that apply pressure, and fermented for up to 18 months at natural ambient seasonal temperatures. It is then double bagged in a resealable, standing pouch.

Most rice miso is made from polished, refined white rice, pharmaceutical derived koji enzymes, soybeans that are often de-fatted using the caustic petroleum derived, hexane gas process and artificially aged in a temperature controlled environment. Eden Foods Organic Hacho Miso is made only from the highest quality organic ingredients, traditionally aged, with no chemicals or additives of any kind whatsoever.

Eden Foods Organic Hacho Miso is gaining recognition in the West as a protective, delicious super soy food. Eden Foods Organic Hacho Miso contains a wealth of enzymes and microorganisms that aid digestion and help to build healthy intestinal flora while keeping undesirable bacteria in check. During fermentation the protein of the soybeans and grain are disassembled into amino acids, including all eight essential ones. The enzymes in miso aid in the digestion of protein and starches in grains, beans, and vegetables making it an essential addition to a vegetarian or mostly vegetarian way of eating. Fermentation breaks down the trypsin inhibitors in soybeans allowing for full utilization of the soy protein. Eden Foods Organic Hacho Miso is the highest in Riboflavin (vitamin B2) of all miso. Eden Foods Organic Hacho Miso is also a good source dietary fiber.

Frequently Asked Questions:

• Does Eden use any chemical additives, preservatives, or chemical or Genetically Engineered derived 'processing aides' in any of its foods? No. They choose not to and make sure all ingredients are natural too.
• Are any Eden Foods or ingredients subjected to food irradiation? No Eden foods or ingredients are ever irradiated. Eden banned irradiated food on August 13, 1988.
• Are all Eden Foods certified organic? Approximately 80 percent of Eden Foods are double certified organic, both by USDA NOP certifiers and by their Chairman and president. Some Japanese Imported and Macrobiotic specialty products, as well as olive oil, are not certified organic, even though they are grown and processed in the traditional manner and are the finest we can source.
• What percentage of Eden Foods are United States and North American grown? Approximately 75 percent of Eden Foods are organically grown on more than 360 family farms of North America with over 80,000 acres of vibrant farmland, and growing every year.
• Do any Eden Foods contain dairy derivatives, eggs, gelatin, or animal by products? None of their foods contain dairy derivatives, eggs, gelatin, or animal derived by-products. Their teabags are crimped sealed and are not glued. Their probiotic supplement, Bifa-15, does contain lactose and gelatin. Eden Bonito Flakes (fish flakes) is the only non- vegetarian, non-vegan food that we offer.
• Does Eden employ Quality Control measures to ensure safe and consistent food? Yes. Every food offered by Eden is subject to numerous detailed and stringent Quality Control (QC) procedures. Eden's United States facilities are inspected and rated by strict third party AIB International inspectors. Eden's consistent high ratings reflect a deep, company wide commitment to food safety, sanitation, and HACCP management programs. One example is Edensoy, with over 240 quality control checks to ensure a consistent and safe product. In addition to the guards and monitors that are part of the machines, a package of soymilk is pulled from production every half hour and thoroughly tested in every regard to be sure it meets our stringent standards.
• Why does Eden carry foods that are kosher? Because, due to their stringent purchasing disciplines they already were, so they had them certified. And yes, Eden is committed to offering certified kosher and pareve foods. In order for any food product to be certified kosher, its actual production must be Rabbinically supervised. The Rabbi visits on a regular basis. He inspects the machines prior to production and verifies that every step required by Jewish Law has been observed and fulfilled. Not all Eden foods are kosher, but 97 percent are; and all kosher foods offered by Eden are certified and marked with a Circle-K on the package.
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Who Says It's Organic?
In 1988 after twenty years of doing organic certification ourselves, Eden adopted third-party organic certification. Eden farm and factory systems, and manuals were guiding and became bedrock for the new organic certifiers. Eden discerningly selects certifying agencies for third-party certification. Their primary is the Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA), yet they always maintain complete responsibility for ensuring organic authenticity. It is far more than paperwork to them. They know their growers well. They use third-party certifiers who work with Eden standards, require an audit trail, and provide deep transparency. Knowing what motivates their growers is essential to them before they can have confidence in their food.

Regrettably, organic food no longer has to be natural food. There are hundreds of chemicals and 'allowables' permitted in the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) that Eden avoids. With USDA organic certification requirements vary a lot, all the way to nonexistent. Accountability is rare, especially for imported food. Eden does not consider food 'certified organic' unless they have completed thorough due diligence regarding its authenticity. The same is true for their non-genetically engineered claims. Eden organic food meets and exceeds requirements for the USDA organic seal, but they do not use it because it does not reflect Eden standards, in spirit or in practice.

GEO Free Assurance Since 1993
Since 1993 Eden has diligently created a system that totally avoids genetically engineered food. The GEO industry and USDA want us to believe commercial scale GEO free food is impossible, as they've thoroughly (and intentionally) polluted the food supply. Eden foods are proof that GEO free food is doable. They have the records, tests, and foods that demonstrate it.

The Non-GMO Project (The Project) was created by industry members from all of its sectors in the U.S.A. and Canada. The Project works to provide consumers and makers a third party non-GMO verification program through all levels of the supply chain, providing verified non-GMO alternatives to the public. Eden Foods' president, Michael Potter is one of eleven governing members of its board of directors who have been involved in initiating, funding, and writing standards for The Project. The Project is North America's first independent non-GMO verification program utilizing on-site facility audits, document and systems reviews, and DNA PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing of all inputs at risk for GMO contamination.

Irradiation Free
Realizing that powerful forces were determined to make food irradiation a common practice, Eden first communicated with our customers about this issue and established a Zero Tolerance policy for irradiated foods in 1988. Today, as irradiation is an ever-increasing threat to human rights and health, Eden's position remains Zero Tolerance. Rigorous selection and screening down to every herb, spice, and seasoning provides us 100% confidence that no EDEN food or ingredient is, has been, or ever will be subject to irradiation. They encourage your vigilance and activism.

Kosher
Eden has managed certification of its kosher foods since 1982. Today 91% of EDEN foods are kosher. Eden chose the Organized Kashrus Laboratories of Brooklyn, New York and their mark because of their reputation for meticulous attention to detail dating back to 1935. They began this in 1982 after realizing our natural foods were already, by virtue of our selection criteria, completely qualified for kosher status.

About Eden Foods

• A principled natural food company - Organic food no longer has to be natural!
• Independently owned and operated for over 43 years
• Only the finest food that can be procured from growers and handlers we know and trust
• Doing everything it takes to acquire the absolute best, no shortcuts
• Full transparency - complete disclosure of ingredients and all handling
• Great tasting food that is pure & purifying
• All Eden facilities rated Superior, AIB International's highest rating

Over 40 Years Ago…
Eden Foods began in Ann Arbor in the late 1960s with friends sourcing natural food. Youth motivated by a study of a worldwide phenomenon centered upon macrobiotics: eating a diet of whole grain and seasonal local plant foods that are not nutrient depleted and without toxic chemical adulteration. Natural foods were simply not available at the time, so they started the Eden food co-op to bring them in. Their initial $200 orders to Erewhon in Boston and Chico-san in California were well received and caused a local stir. This lead to co-op members traveling rural roads, knocking on doors looking for farmers to grow food using organic methods.

The Eden co-op grew into a natural food store offering whole grains, beans, soyfoods, sea vegetables, miso, cereals, vegetable oils, seed and nut butters, and the like. It expanded adding a cafeteria, bakery, and books, and became known as the Eden Deli. It was one of very few places in the U.S.A. where you could get natural, organic, macrobiotic food. Folks came from near and far. Health food stores called asking to get the foods Eden was carrying. An EDEN brand began to take shape.

In 1972 Eden opened its first warehouse and established relations with artisan Japanese traditional food makers. Imports of sea vegetables, teas, miso, shoyu, umeboshi plums, kuzu root starch, rice vinegar, rice bran pickles, mirin, etc. followed, and this solidified Eden as an important natural food source for the United States and Canada.

Constantly Reinvesting
Eden is the oldest natural and organic food company in North America and the largest independent manufacturer of dry grocery organic foods. They are deeply rooted in Michigan about twenty miles southwest of Ann Arbor. It is here they manage grower relations, manufacturing, trucking, quality control, customer and retailer services, marketing, import/export, accounting, databases and websites. Over 95% of EDEN foods are sold in natural food stores, co-ops, and supermarkets via traditional natural and grocery distribution channels. Web site, employee, and wholesale sales make up the remainder.

Eden tracks the environmental impact of its food upstream with suppliers, through company operations, and downstream monitoring all its social impacts. Energy consumption and waste are tracked using custom in-house tools. In 2009 Eden Foods was selected as the best food company in the world, and the third best company overall by The Better World Shopping Guide. They acknowledged Eden's outstanding record in social and environmental responsibility. The company earned A+ and A ratings in ten food categories. This is further explained at edenfoods.com/betterworld

Locally Grown Food
Eden buys all food from, and pays farms directly getting more cash to them. Most is grown a few miles to a few hundred miles from home base. In the Midwest they source wild rice, beans, spelt, soybeans, cabbage, apples, tart cherries, strawberries, pastry wheat, and tomatoes. Other North American family farm organic food includes grains from the Midwest and Western high plains; almonds, pistachios, and brown rice are from California; flax and mustard seed are from Saskatchewan; dulse is from New Brunswick. …too many to list here.

Cooking and packaging centers around home too. EDEN prepares 70% of its items at headquarters: fresh milled whole grain flours, gomasio sesame salts, unrefined vegetable oils, vinegars, soy sauces, roasted almonds and seeds, packaged snacks, whole grains, sea salt, popcorn and other grain. EDENSOY is made twelve miles east at an affiliate company we founded to bring its manufacture from Japan to Michigan. Eden Organic Pasta Company is in Detroit. Meridian Foods cannery for organic beans, refried beans, rice and beans, and chilies is in east-central Indiana. EDEN organic udon and soba noodles are made at Sobaya Company in Montréal, PQ. Some EDEN food comes from afar: extra virgin olive oil from Spain, high altitude white and red quinoa from the Andes mountains, chamomile from Egypt, and green tea and traditional healthy food from Japan. The soybeans in their miso and soy sauces are non-GMO, U.S.A. Midwestern organic.