Volume 12, Number 8 - August
2011
Hello from Food Label News.
We celebrate summer picnics and BBQs with bite-sized,
easily digestible chunks of food labeling news. This month we expose the
bloopers of food labeling – the common mistakes rookies
make. We also summarize our case studies, popular with our
readers. And now you can search
www.foodlabels.com for
answers to your labeling and regulatory questions. Find what
you need more easily on the site, including Reader Q&As
and the newsletter archive. Happy
Summer!
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Food Label Bloopers – 5 Rookie Mistakes
It’s not news to food labelers that FDA has very specific
requirements for each component of the food label for the
products they regulate, including what must be present and
what is not allowed. In our role as food labeling experts,
we notice a variety of common mistakes. For regulators and
consumers alike, these call into question the accuracy of
every other element of the food label. Don’t get caught with
one of these rookie moves:
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Incorrect rounding on
Nutrition Facts – If you pick up a package of 244.1
calories, it's a dead giveaway.
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Incorrect formatting for
Nutrition Facts – You can't get creative here.
Lines, bars, fonts, spacing and type styles come with
tight specifications.
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Incorrect serving size on
Nutrition Facts – It's not an option to choose your
serving size so that the resulting calories or fat look
more attractive. You must follow FDA's "Reference
Amounts Customarily Consumed."
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Ingredient statements that
are too long – Salt is salt is salt. A composite
ingredient statement that adds all like ingredients is
cleaner and more consumer-friendly.
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Listing a multi-component
ingredient as a single ingredient – Ketchup is created
from multiple ingredients and each of these ingredients
must be listed on the label. You can choose to group
like ingredients together or use parentheses to declare
sub-ingredients.
To keep you in the clear, make
sure every element of your food label complies with FDA
regulations. We’ve prepared a
one-pager to help you go from rookie to quick study.
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Keeping
You Current
Revised DVs for food labels:
news report says FDA is hoping to publish
proposed rule this year
GMO labeling:
U.S. dropped opposition at Codex meeting
MyPlate Food Icon:
2000+ organizations serve as USDA's National
Strategic Partners
USDA Proposed Rule to
better label raw meat and poultry containing
added solutions
Kids LiveWell: a new
National Restaurant Association initiative; see
criteria
Join
Food Label Community
for a discussion of the news
From the Archive
Article on FDA Warning Letters
citing food label violations
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Claims can be the
most tricky part of food label compliance. Words like
healthy, low fat and high fiber cannot be used at
will. These nutrient content claims are defined by
regulations and can only be used when products have a
specific nutrient profile. To access more information on
this topic see
Silliker Nutrient and Health Claims U.S. and Canadian
Regulatory Guide developed as a collaboration between
Silliker and Food Consulting Company. |
Case Study Roundup
Food label regulations
can be challenging for start-up companies and
established multi-national retailers alike. Whether
it’s launching a new brand, managing compliance
across hundreds of vendors, marketing organic
products or ensuring that products pass swiftly
through customs, we’ve helped Food Consulting
Company clients manage the nuances of food labeling
regulations. Read about how five companies ensured
regulatory compliance for their food labels.
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Q. |
What label components must be on products that are
only sold in farmers markets and on the Internet?
− S.H., Arizona, Specialty Food Consultant |
A. |
There are no special
provisions for products sold at farmers markets or on
the Internet. Regardless of the sales channel, all foods
sold in the U.S. must be in full compliance with FDA
food labeling requirements that are specified in
the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations. Read
more |
At Your Service
Food
Consulting Company,
founded in 1993, provides nutrition analysis, food labeling
and regulatory support to ensure 100% compliance with FDA
regulations. With well over 1,000 clients worldwide, we’re
pleased to provide
information to address your
food labeling needs.
We value our relationships and
are working to stay connected. To build your network, we
invite you to connect with us via
LinkedIn and while you’re
there, join the
Food Label Community.
You may reprint all or part of this newsletter,
provided you attribute it to Food Label News
and include a link to
www.foodlabels.com.
©
2011. Food Consulting Company, Del Mar, CA. All rights reserved.
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