Volume
9, Number 5 - May 2008
IN THIS ISSUE:
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About Food Consulting Company
"Thank you for your thoughtful
responses. Your
suggestion for label design really
solves my dilemma. Your patience and work helped us nail
down each aspect of label compliance."
~ Rishi Nair
Aligna, Inc.
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Greetings to our clients and guest
subscribers! We work to get your products
properly labeled and positioned in the best
light within the law so that your efforts can be
focused on maximizing product sales. Visit
Services Page
for information on Full Label Compliance and
Ongoing Regulatory Support; see
Reader Q&A Page
for answers to featured questions from Food
Label News subscribers. |
Q. I see
butter listed on ingredient statements alone
sometimes and sometimes followed by a
parenthesis around the butter ingredients e.g.,
(cream, salt). How should I list butter in my
ingredient statement?
S.D., Startup Company, Nebraska
A. If
the formula includes unsalted butter, it is
correct to simply list "butter" (or specify as "unsalted butter") in the
ingredient statement in descending order
according to total weight compared to other
ingredients. Read more:
Reader Q&A page.
Submit a question
for Reader Q&A (no charge). |
FDA Issues Guide for Food Labels
In April 2008, FDA issued a revised "Guidance For
Industry - A Food Labeling Guide." The document
takes the place of the previous version that was
issued in September 1994. The 2008 version
includes Code of Federal Regulation references
and has:
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expanded explanations for many previously
covered food labeling topics
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explanations for two significant regulatory
changes that occurred since 1994: trans fat
labeling regulations, and Food
Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection
Act of 2004
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expansive explanation for label claims use
Commentary: Food Label News frequently
mentions the Food Labeling Guide as a reference
tool for food labels work. FDA's 2008
Food Labeling Guide
is a must-read for food labelers at every
skill and experience level.
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FDA Issues Labeling Guide for Restaurants
In April 2008, FDA issued new "Guidance for
Industry - A Labeling Guide for Restaurants and
Other Retail Establishments Selling
Away-From-Home Foods." The guidance is in
Q&A format.
Foods served or sold in restaurants are exempt
from nutrition labeling if they do not bear a
claim. When such food items do bear a claim, the
establishment is obligated to comply with
certain labeling rules within the Code of
Federal Regulations that are explained in the
Labeling Guide for Restaurants.
The guidance also explains nutrition labeling
requirements and exemptions for many special
situations like soup/salad bars, gourmet
take-aways, bakeries, convenience stores, vending
machines and others.
See
Labeling Guide for
Restaurants
Commentary: Food
Consulting Company can simplify the work to
provide nutrition information for restaurant
menu items and other ready-to-eat foods to
comply
with FDA and state/local
regulations.
More Information
or
Contact Us.
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USDA Requests Comments on Child Nutrition Labels
In an April 8, 2008, Federal Register notice
the Food and Nutrition Service of the United
States Department of Agriculture requests
comments on a revision of a currently approved
information collection relating to Child Nutrition (CN) labeling for commercial
food products.
Only manufacturers who wish to place CN labels
on their products must comply with CN Labeling
Program requirements. The purpose of CN labeling
is to aid schools and institutions participating
in Child Nutrition Programs in determining the
contribution a commercial product makes toward
the food-based meal pattern requirements of
these programs.
Read
Federal Register notice.
Commentary: Food Consulting Company helps
companies get products into schools by producing
reports for both the food-based meal plan and
nutrient-based plans.
Contact us for
help with CN labeling on products such as pizza,
sandwiches, burritos, fruit snacks and
beverages, and grain-based items.
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At Your Service: Food
Consulting Company helps
restaurants
provide all types of nutrition and allergen
information to meet customer needs and demands,
including calories and fat per serving for
individual items and meal combinations.
More Information
or
Contact Us.
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© 2008, Food Consulting Company.
www.foodlabels.com.
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