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Volume 15, Number
12 - December 2015
'Tis the Season from
Food Label News!
As the year comes to a close, we are excited to comment on
FDA initiatives regarding use of the term natural and
labeling guidance for genetically modified foods. You will
also find an important Q&A about statement of identity and
one of our reader favorite articles: 5 food label bloopers.
Wishing you happiness, good fortune, and the health to enjoy
it all. Cheers!
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Welcome News in the World of Food Labeling
Last month's news from FDA was a welcome development:
opening its rulemaking process for use of "natural" on food
labels and labeling guidance for genetically modified foods.
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While the USDA already has a policy on
natural, not since the early 1990s has FDA revisited their
position on either natural or genetically modified foods.
The food industry would benefit from a clear and unified
policy as well as consistency between government agencies.
Why is FDA moved to act now? We cannot be
certain, however there is deepening controversy over the use
of bioengineered foods and the term natural on food labels
both of which have been the focus of class action lawsuits,
state legislation, and citizen petitions. Judges have been
asked to determine if consumers have been misled when a food
labeled natural contains ingredients derived from
bioengineered plants or certain processing methods. While
FDA has now issued
final guidance on the voluntary labeling of foods that do and do not
contain genetic engineering (GE), many key questions remain
unanswered. For example: Can a food containing an ingredient
derived from a GE plant still be natural? Should agricultural
practices such as bioengineering be factored into the
definition of natural?
FDA's initiative to investigate these
questions and their follow-on answers may provide much needed
guidance for the food labeling industry. We applaud this
effort and invite our colleagues to submit their
comments to FDA by February 10, 2016 and
join the discussion in the Food Label Community.
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Our takeaway: It's refreshing that FDA has opened the
dialogue on this topic. As consultants to the food industry, we have
urged caution to-date when using the term natural, given the potential
risk. Our approach is to advocate for alternative ways to communicate
key marketing messages without using the term natural until the current
environment shifts.
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What's
News in the Food Label
Community
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Reader Q&A
Find
answers to our readers'
questions or send us
your question for an
upcoming issue.
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Q. |
I know there are requirements for the "statement of
identity" but what part of the product name counts as
the "statement of identity"? I cant find a definition
for that term.
− M.G.,
Minnesota, Food Start-up |
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A. |
21 CFR 101.3 defines the identity labeling of food in
packaged form. The Principle Display Panel (front of
package) is required to include as one of its principle
features a statement of the identity of the commodity.
The statement of identity is either the name of the
standardized food or an appropriately descriptive
product name.
Read more
in a previous article from Food Label News. |
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What Matters in Food Labeling
Food Label News,
now in its 15th year, is a monthly e-newsletter reaching
over 9,500 subscribers around the world. We
welcome your colleagues to subscribe for news and insights
about food labels:
www.foodlabels.com/subscribe
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Your Virtual
Food Label Partner
Food Consulting Company,
founded in 1993, provides nutrition analysis, food labeling,
and regulatory support for more than 1,500 clients worldwide.
Our
guarantee: 100% regulatory compliance.
Contact us
for the help you need now.
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© 2015. Food Consulting Company, Del Mar, CA. All rights reserved.
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