Q. I
manufacture spreads in collaboration with a
restaurant and the restaurant name is the
prominent name on the label. Whose address
should be used in the label signature line?
G. A., Established Food Manufacturer, Pennsylvania
A.
See
Reader Q&A Page
for the answer.
Submit a question for
the Reader Q&A Spot (no charge). For
confidential/guaranteed answers, see
FDA Regulatory Support. |
Proposed Rule for Gluten-Free on Food Labels
In the January 23, 2007, Federal Register, FDA
announced a proposed rule for voluntary use of
the term "gluten-free" in the labeling of foods.
Also the Agency has published Questions and
Answers on the proposed rule.
In part, the proposed rule:
-
defines the term "prohibited grain" to mean
wheat, rye and barley and crossbred hybrids
of these grains (e.g., triticale, a cross
between wheat and rye)
-
sets the threshold for gluten-free to be
less than 20 parts per million of gluten in
the food
-
specifies how a voluntary gluten-free
labeling claim must be worded for oats and
for other foods that inherently do not
contain gluten
-
explains that a food labeled as
"gluten-free" but that does not conform to
the proposed regulatory definitions and
requirements would render that food
misbranded
See
Federal Register
announcement.
See
FDA Q&A.
Commentary: The proposed rule is a step
toward fulfillment of a
requirement established by Congress in the Food Allergen Labeling and
Consumer Protection Act of 2004.
Food Consulting Company can give expert advice
on using a gluten-free claim on a particular
product when a client orders Full Label
Compliance, Label Compliance Review, or Regulatory
Support. See
Services.
|
Uniform Compliance Date for FDA Regulations Set
FDA has established January 1, 2010, as the
uniform compliance date for food labeling
regulations that are issued between January 1,
2007, and December 31, 2008.
The previously announced and more near uniform
compliance date, January 1, 2008, is for
regulations that were issued between March 14,
2005, and December 31, 2006. FDA sets the
uniform dates in order to minimize the economic
impact of label changes.
See
Federal Register
announcement.
Commentary: Food labeling regulation
changes in the period of March 14, 2005, to
December 31, 2006, were not far-reaching to
affect all labels; in fact, many labels that
were in FDA compliance with allergen and trans
fat labeling regulations on January 1, 2006, are
already in compliance with labeling regulations
for January 1, 2008.
However, since there is no single list of
updated and new regulations due on the January
1, 2008, uniform compliance date, Food
Consulting Company is referring labelers to the
Food Label News
archive for
dates March 2005 through December 2006; the
newsletter has reported on updated and new
regulations that were made final during that
period. Current clients have the option of
ordering a
Client File Review.
|
FDA Acts to Update Lean and Calcium Claims
In response to a nutrient content claim
petition, FDA is adopting as a final rule an
amendment to the "lean" definition in the Code
of Federal Regulations that allows foods
categorized as "mixed dishes not measurable with
cup" to use of the nutrient content claim
"lean." To use "lean" in labeling, the foods
must meet specific criteria for total fat,
saturated fat and cholesterol.
See
Federal Register
announcement.
Also triggered by a petition, FDA is proposing
to amend the existing health claim for calcium
to allow the claim of a reduced risk of
osteoporosis with the consumption of both
calcium and vitamin D. The proposed rule would
also eliminate certain language requirements
that are part of an existing calcium and
osteoporosis health claim.
See
FDA press release.
|
Service Tip: Feel Confident with Label Compliance Review
Ensure FDA compliance for a single label
before you print. When you have done your best
to apply FDA regulations to your product label
and Nutrition Facts, but feel uncertain about
some aspects, a
Label Compliance Review
will put your concerns to rest.
Does your service
help food labelers? Would you like to see it
featured here?
Contact Us. |
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©
2007
Food Consulting Company
13724 Recuerdo Drive
Del Mar, CA 92014 USA
www.foodlabels.com
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