Volume 7, Number 8 - August 2006

IN THIS ISSUE:

• Reader Q&A Spot: Internet Sales & Nutrition Facts

• Groups Press for FDA Action on Food Labels

• Plan for 2007 Food Labels Priorities Underway

• U.S. Food Labels, FDA and Codex Alimentarius

• Service Tip: Shelf Life Evaluation

Dear Readers,

Food Consulting Company has learned that some subscribers are not receiving Food Label News because it is blocked by their Internet Service Provider. To ensure continuous delivery, please add -- FLN@foodlabels.com -- to your email address book or list of approved senders. The purpose of Food Label News is to keep our clients and guest subscribers informed on government actions for food labels.

Q.  I'm planning to sell my products only by internet. Do I still need a Nutrition Facts panel?
      L.B. New Food Company Start-Up, Iowa

A.  See *NEW* Reader Q&A Page for the answer.

To submit a question for an upcoming issue, send an email; if chosen, the question will be answered at no charge to you. For a speedy answer to your regulatory question, see Services.

Groups Press for FDA Action on Food Labels

In July 2006, health-concerned stakeholders announced demands regarding food/nutrition issues that are under FDA regulatory jurisdiction.

On July 10, 2006, a group of hypertension experts, physicians, and health organizations sent a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Mike Leavitt to urge HHS action to reduce salt consumption. In part, the letter urges the Secretary to:

• use the HHS office as a bully pulpit to press food manufacturers and restaurants to gradually lower sodium levels in their products

• have FDA revoke the Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status of salt and limit sodium levels in various categories of food

See letter.

On July 18, 2006, Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) rebutted an FDA report to Congress on industry compliance with food label regulations under FDA's control. In the rebuttal CSPI urges Congress to direct FDA to:

• conduct supermarket sweeps to stop misleading health-related claims

• systematically test the accuracy of Nutrition Facts labels

• give labeling enforcement higher priority during inspections of manufacturing facilities and distribution facilities

• put a stop to marketplace fads before they get out of hand

• increase funding to the FDA division responsible for food labeling

See FDA's report to Congress.

See CSPI rebuttal.

Plan for 2007 Food Labels Priorities Underway

On June 29, 2006, FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) announced that the Center is requesting input on program priorities for fiscal year 2007, including what priorities should continue and what new priorities should be added. The call for comments states that congressional appropriation will unquestionably affect what the Center can commit to in the year that begins October 1, 2006, and ends September 30, 2007. The priorities will be divided into five sections
including:

• ensuring food defense

• ensuring food safety

• improving nutrition

• improving dietary supplement safety

• ensuring cosmetic safety

Stakeholder comments can be submitted until August 28, 2006. CFSAN intends to make the priority list available in the fall of 2006.

Read Federal Register notice.

Commentary: In June 2006, Food Label News commented on diminished funding for CFSAN 2006 activities and the Center's projection that such funding could continue for several years.

U.S. Food Labels, FDA and Codex Alimentarius

News sources searched regularly by Food Consulting Company often include reports from the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex). Codex is an international body that establishes food standards under the joint auspices of the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

FDA participates with Codex to promote international harmonization of food standards. Codex has no direct impact on food labels for FDA-regulated products sold in the United States until the FDA process for food labeling regulations is exercised on a Codex decision.

Commentary: Periodically Food Consulting Company receives questions regarding Codex. The Codex standards would be an important aid to U.S. companies that export food products. Food labelers labeling products for sale in the U.S. are obligated to fully comply with the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (not Codex).

See Codex Alimentarius website.

Service Tip: Shelf Life Evaluation
Food Consulting Company offers shelf life evaluation. A food technologist will test your product sample for parameters that affect the shelf life (pH, water activity, moisture, solids, others); these findings will be used along with specifics about product ingredients, processing methods, and packaging to determine the current shelf life of your product. See Services. Place Orders.

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© Food Consulting Company, 2006
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