Volume
6, Number 12 - December 2005
IN THIS ISSUE:
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About Food Consulting Company
"Thank you for getting back to us so fast.
This is the second time we have used your
services. Your follow-up and customized
service perfectly meet our expectations.
Thank you."
– Mathieu Senard
Alter Eco Americas
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Season's Greetings!
Food Consulting Company staff is feeling joyful
this season and we are thankful for the
confidence our clients have placed in our
services this past year. We helped more than
600 food labelers get their labels ready to
meet the January 1, 2006, requirements.
Congratulations to all the labelers who are
ready to go! Thank you to all the companies that
make us the largest outsource provider of food
labeling help. |
2006 Food Labels
Compliance In a Nutshell
Food Consulting Company has published a summary
article of the trans fat and food allergen food
label requirements that are mandatory on January
1, 2006. The article addresses the most
frequently-asked questions received by Food
Consulting Company related to the requirements.
Read the article at
www.foodlabels.com/2006-article.htm.
Commentary: Food labelers can request
personalized help for product-specific questions
related to the 2006 requirements by submitting a
question for Regulatory Research or subscribing
to an Ongoing Regulatory Support Plan at
www.foodlabels.com.
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USDA Gives Guidance for MyPyramid on Food Labels
USDA has published a Statement of Interim Policy
Guidance entitled "Use of the USDA MyPyramid
Reference on Meat and Poultry Labeling and Whole
Grain Claims."
In part, the USDA guidance advises labelers:
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MyPyramid replaced the Food Guide Pyramid in
2005; food labels referencing the old
graphic (Food Guide
Pyramid) need to be revised to eliminate this
outdated reference.
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MyPyramid uses discreet numbers in common
household measure, i.e., cups and ounces
(not numbers of servings).
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MyPyramid
references on food labels should be based on the 2,000
calorie level when stating the amount the product provides toward the
recommendation for a major food group.
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MyPyramid references to whole grain that
state or imply a high or increased amount
(example, excellent source of whole grains) cannot be used
on food labels. However, truthful and not-misleading statements of
fact that do not characterize the specific
level of whole grains can be used.
Access USDA's guidance:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/larc/Claims/Food_Guide_MYPyramid_Policy.pdf
Commentary: FDA has not issued formal
guidance on using MyPyramid on food labels, but
in conversations with Food Consulting Company
the Agency has referred to USDA's guidance
document to explain how MyPyramid can be used on
FDA-regulated food labels.
Food Consulting
Company offers help with label statements and
claims, including use of MyPyramid on food
labels. Companies can request claims help
through the Regulatory Research option or an
Ongoing Regulatory Support Plan, or by ordering a
Full Label Compliance Package or a Label Compliance Review. Request service at
www.foodlabels.com.
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USDA & FDA Considers
Division of Regulatory Authority
In the November 7, 2005, Federal Register, FDA
and USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)
announced that the Agencies are working jointly
to establish clear guidelines for which agency
has regulatory authority over certain types of
food products that contain meat and poultry as
ingredients.
A meeting is scheduled for December 15, 2005, to gain
public input on the Agencies' ideas and the
impact of the changes.
See Federal Register announcement:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FRPubs/05-013N.htm
Commentary: Changes in which Agency
regulates food categories could have significant
consequences for food labels. Currently, in
general, products with more than 2% cooked meat
or poultry (3% raw) are regulated by USDA,
however product creativity has muddied this
delineation. Food Label News will keep readers updated on
developments.
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FYI: In
November 2005, FDA's Center for Food Safety and
Applied Nutrition released a report on the 2004
Supplement to FDA's Health and Diet Survey. In
part, the report provides information about
consumer perception, attitude, and eating
behavior related to carbohydrates and includes
comments on terms such as net carb, low carb,
carb wise, etc.
Read the FDA report:
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~comm/crnutri3.html |
Get more from
Food Label News: Send
topic suggestions.
Need help now? Submit a question for Regulatory
Research or subscribe to an Ongoing Regulatory Support Plan at
www.foodlabels.com/orders.
Please share this newsletter in its entirety, including subscription and copyright information.
© Food Consulting Company, 2005
13724 Recuerdo Drive, Del Mar, CA 92014 USA
tel 800-793-2844 or 858-793-4658
fax 800-522-3545 or 858-712-3323
www.foodlabels.com |
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