Volume 13, Number
12 - December
2012
Hello from Food
Label News.
Rarely does
food labeling make such headline news as it did in the
recent national
election. In this issue we report on California's defeated
Prop 37 and implications for food labelers. Also, we're pleased
that our readers were so enthused with the start to our
10-part series on database nutrition analysis and invite you
to read Part 2 this month. Wishing you peace and abundance
for the Holidays!
|
California Says NO to GMO Labeling
California
voters defeated Prop 37, but the question of GMO labeling
remains unanswered. Here are some insights as we continue to
sort through the issue.
1. |
Hope for a federal standard – One only needs to
recall the chaos with restaurant labeling when
multiple jurisdictions issued regulations on the
same topic. The recent federal standard simplified
restaurant labeling, benefitting industry and
consumers alike. |
2. |
Look to the rBST precedent for "GMO-free" –
Food labelers wanting to market the "GMO-free"
nature of their foods may want to examine the label
requirements for rBST-free. Note that FDA accepts an
rBST-free claim provided there is an accompanying
referral statement. |
3. |
Leverage organics – Consumers are not always aware
that organic foods are GMO-free by definition. With
education, it’s likely we would see a rise in
organics popularity. |
4. |
Be cautious about "natural" – With the continued
spotlight on "natural" and litigators who are poised
to scrutinize the nuances, companies are becoming
more conservative in using the claim to steer clear
of legal controversy.
|
|
What's News in the
Food Label Community
Search answers
to food label questions |
|
|
|
|
|
These insights are an excerpt from an article
requested by the Institute of Food Technologists for "IFT:
The ePerspective." See the
complete article and follow the rich and lively discussion about GMOs, organics and natural in the
Food Label Community on LinkedIn. |
Set-up Your Raw Materials Database:
Nutrition Analysis Series - Part 2 of 10
This month’s installment in our 10-part series overviews
Step 2 of the Nutrition Analysis process: the
requirements for setting up your raw materials database.
This series is based on a widely regarded publication
distributed by ESHA Research to users of Genesis R&D,
the industry’s leading nutrition analysis software.
View/print
Part 2 of the series. If you missed
Part 1 you can view and download it now. The
print-ready pages from all parts of the series will add
up to the complete guide.
|
In this step, you will determine which
ingredients in your recipe will be matched to a
supplier spec sheet and which will be matched to
an existing food item in the database. |
|
Reader Q&A
Find
answers to our readers'
questions or send us
your question for an
upcoming issue.
Q. |
For an already printed box, we’d like to add a stamp
that says Contains Milk as the box is supposed to say
Contains Milk and Wheat but currently only says Contains
Wheat. We would like to put the stamp under the
statement that says "made on shared equipment with
products containing milk, soy, tree nuts, etc.” Can we
do that?
− S.R., California, Private Labeler |
A. |
It is not acceptable to
separate the allergen information into multiple Contains
statements. However, it is permissible to use stickers
to make changes in labeling as long as the sticker is
firmly affixed and will adhere to the packaging under
the intended storage conditions.
Read more. |
|
|
What matters in food labeling
Food Label News,
now in its 13th year, is a monthly e-newsletter reaching
over 7,500 subscribers around the world. We
welcome your colleagues to subscribe for news and insights
about food labels:
www.foodlabels.com/subscribe
|
|
|
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.
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.
© 2012. Food Consulting Company, Del Mar, CA. All rights reserved.
|
|