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Volume 7, Number 7 - July 2006 IN THIS ISSUE: |
About Food Consulting Company
"Thank you for your swift response. We are pleased with the work you have done for us, and will definitely use your company again in the future."
– Jonathan Lin |
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Dear Readers, Increase the value of time spent reading Food Label News. Send your food labeling question for consideration in an upcoming issue of the monthly newsletter. Each month Food Label News answers the question that has the greatest appeal to the readership. Your answer could be answered for free. Learn more about the new Reader Q&A Spot in Food Label News, May 2006. |
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Q. What is
FDA's stand on GMO labeling? K.W., Food Importer/Broker, Connecticut A. This is a question we encounter from time-to-time from food importers and others who request full service label help on their products. Certain label statements are allowed, while others such as "GMO-free" are not. See Reader Q&A Page for the complete answer. To submit a question for future consideration, please send us an email. |
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FDA Warns on Food Labels Additives/Claims In a May 31, 2006, letter to a candy bar maker, FDA warns that candy bars containing folic acid are adulterated since folic acid as an ingredient is subject to a food additive regulation (21CFR172.345). The regulation does not allow the addition of folic acid to candy products because of possible serious health repercussions in some people. FDA also warns that the candy bar labels bear false or misleading claims (e.g., "Promotes a Healthy Heart"), as well as claims that promote the bars for uses that cause them to be drugs (e.g., "Formulated to Help Reduce Bad Cholesterol"). Read FDA warning letter. Commentary: Writing label claims that are compliant with FDA regulations can be tricky and time consuming. Companies can receive prompt, expert help in developing FDA-compliant claims by purchasing an Ongoing Regulatory Support Plan from Food Consulting Company. |
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Physicians Urge Changes in Sodium Allowances In a June 13, 2006, press release, the American Medical Association (AMA) announced its recommendations that would require FDA to:
Read AMA press release. Commentary: A consumer advocacy group filed a lawsuit in February, 2005, with demands similar to AMA; see Food Label News, March 2005. FDA has struggled to meet demands to require lower sodium content in commercially-prepared foods. In October 2005, the Agency published a final rule on sodium levels for the term healthy and in that rule identified technological barriers and poor consumer sales as inhibitors to reducing sodium content below certain levels. See Food Label News archive (June 2002, March 2003, October 2005) for background on FDA and lower sodium levels. |
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FDA Continues Obesity Working Group Plan
On June 2, 2006, FDA announced findings from the
report, Keystone Forum on Away-From-Home Foods:
Opportunities for Preventing Weight Gain and
Obesity. On advice from the 2004 Obesity Working
Group, FDA commissioned a facilitator (Keystone
Group) to develop a consensus among
representatives from industry, government,
academia, and the civic sector on what can be
done to support consumers' ability to manage
calorie intake while consuming away-from-home
foods.
Read FDA press release. Commentary: At this time, restaurant menu items are exempt from nutrition labeling unless they bear nutrition claims. Restaurants increasingly provide this information to consumers on a voluntary basis. |
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Service Tip: Restaurant Nutrition/Allergen
Labeling If your company has a product or service complementary to the services of Food Consulting Company and you would like to talk about featuring it in this newsletter, please send us an email. |
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Please share this newsletter in its entirety, including subscription and copyright information. © Food Consulting Company, 2006 |
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