Volume 10, Number 11 - November
2009
Happy
Anniversary Food
Label News.
As we start our 10th year of
bringing you Food Label News, it’s only natural that we
celebrate with one of the most asked about topics: when to
label a food as "natural." Last month we explored "natural"
labeling for the U.S. and this month we address "natural"
regulations in Canada.
We look ahead to highlight the year’s
developments on what really matters for "Front-of-Pack"
labeling next month. |
In this issue
you'll find:
Karen C. Duester,
President |
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" The services provided by Food
Consulting are essential to my client. I
don't know how we would function without you."
– Marian Harding Cochran
Corporate Counsel for Leading Food
Importer
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Canadian rules for use
of the term "natural" are more restrictive and
tightly-defined than either U.S. FDA or USDA rules.
For example, enriched flour is not a "natural"
Canadian food ingredient. Therefore, it is
impossible for a food that contains white flour to be
labeled "natural" in Canada. For more information,
see last link inset
above right. |
Disclosure Statements on Food Labels:
Instructional Series
Part 3 of 10
This month's installment in
our ten-part series details the requirements for "disclosure
statements" on food labels. This 10-part instructional
series is based on a 2009 publication titled "Silliker
Nutrient and Health Claims U.S. Regulatory Guide" that was
cooperatively developed by Food Consulting Company and
Silliker, Inc., laboratory nutrition analysis serving the
food industry.
View/print
Part 3 of the series.
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Don’t forget to
disclose your "disclosure statements." In our
experience, disclosure statements are frequently
overlooked on the labels we review for regulatory
compliance. For more information about disclosure
statements, see
February 2009 Reader Q&A. |
If you missed
Part 1 or
Part 2 of the series you
can view and download them now. The pages from all parts
will add up to the complete booklet. |
Q. |
Can we label our agave syrup as a natural low glycemic
sweetener in the U.S.?
− A.B., Food Importer,
Mexico |
A. |
This question
has two parts: "natural" and "low glycemic." As outlined in
last
month's
Food Label News, FDA
does not restrict the term "natural" on food labels provided
the product is free of artificial flavors, chemical
preservatives, or added colors (from any source). The FDA
has not defined the term "glycemic." If you use the word
"low" with "glycemic," you must have authoritative basis for
the claim and include the reference on your label to ensure
that the label is truthful and not misleading.
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 over 1,000 clients worldwide, Food
Consulting Company’s services are ideal for start-up and
established food manufacturers, distributors, food
importers, brokers, and restaurateurs.
Plan now for 2010
regulatory support. With Food Consulting Company's
FDA Regulatory Support in
2010, labelers will quickly move past technical information
roadblocks that can slow label completion.
Contact Us to set your plan
in motion.
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.
©
2009. Food Consulting Company, Del Mar, CA. All rights reserved.
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