OCTOBER 2001
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...INTOUCH...
Monthly Updates on Government Action Affecting Food Labels
October 5, 2001
Brought to you by The Food Consulting Company
Your source for food label help
http://www.foodlabels.com
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Dear Subscribers: With this issue of INTOUCH
we are
announcing our newly expanded and easier-to-use
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NOW THE NEWS!
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New Reference Amounts for Some
Ingredients
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FDA has issued a compliance guide that states the
legal
requirements for the reference amount customarily
consumed
of baking powder, baking soda, and pectin. The
reference
amount is changed from the former 1 gram (g) to 0.6
g; in
addition, 1/8 teaspoon (tsp) is now a legal household
measure
for label statements. See compliance guide:
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/sodaguid.html
Author's Note: The compliance guide establishes that
1/8 tsp
can also be used as the household measure for other
products
with very small reference amounts. Examples for
consideration
include powdered cream, butter replacement powders,
spices,
and flavorings.
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FDA is Pushed To Act On Trans Fat
Labeling
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The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has written
FDA
urging the agency to finalize the rule on labeling
foods with trans
fatty acid content. This OMB action is based on FDA's
prelimin-
ary Regulatory Impact Analysis that shows the
potential benefits
of such labeling exceeds the costs; it follows a June,
2001, letter
from Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)
asking
OMB to pressure FDA to finalize the rule based on the
impact
analysis. The rule to disclose trans fatty acid
content on food
labels was proposed by FDA in November, 1999. See OMB
press release:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/pubpress/2001-35.html
Author's note: INTOUCH reported on trans fatty acid
labeling
action in January 2001 and August 2001. See INTOUCH
archives,
http://www.foodlabels.com/newsletter.htm. We will
keep you informed on further developments.
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Choline Content Claims Now Allowed
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Under provisions of the FDA Modernization Act of 1997
(FDAMA),
nutrient content claims for choline-containing foods
and dietary
supplements can be used as of August 29, 2001. FDAMA
allows
proposed nutrient content claims to become legally
acceptable
claims if FDA does not act to prohibit or modify such
claims. In the
case of choline, a company submitted the nutrient
content claim
notification and FDA did not act. Read about choline
claims:
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/flcholin.html
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