Breaking News on Food & Beverage Development - North America EU edition

National Uniformity Coalition strikes back at bill opponents

26-Apr-2006 - The National Uniformity for Food Coalition this week released a legal analysis that claims the proposed legislation would only affect 11 state laws as part of an effort to set national standards for food safety regulations.

Connecticut Senate votes to ban school soda sales

26-Apr-2006 - The nationwide initiative to improve school nutrition is gathering momentum, with Connecticut becoming the next in line to pass legislation aimed at reducing childhood obesity.

New benzene test reveals flaw in FDA soft drinks investigation

19-Apr-2006 - A new test should more accurately show the amount of benzene in soft drinks on shop shelves, but that does not mean there is no problem, says the scientist behind the new procedure to BeverageDaily.com.

No go for junk food ban in Illinois schools

14-Apr-2006 - A proposal by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to ban schools from selling junk food and soda has been blocked by a legislative committee on the grounds that it does not provide a "total approach" to child nutrition.

First lawsuits filed over benzene in soft drinks

12-Apr-2006 - Lawyers in the US announced yesterday they were taking two soft drinks firms to court, alleging lab tests showed drinks contaminated with benzene above America's safety limit for tap water.

Revised labelling required for poultry products

11-Apr-2006 - By next month food companies will be required to have more explicit instructions that uncooked, breaded or boneless poultry products need to be cooked.

New bill proposes revamp of school nutrition standards

07-Apr-2006 - A bill introduced in Congress yesterday proposes a radical overhaul of the nutritional standards for foods sold in schools, a move likely to change the face of the type of products available to children throughout the school day.

P&G, Coca-Cola resolve calcium patent dispute

06-Apr-2006 - Coca-Cola can continue selling orange juice fortified with calcium, after having settled with Procter and Gamble over a patent infringement lawsuit a development that opens the way forpotential collaborations in the future.

Petition filed with FDA to withdraw Splenda from US market

05-Apr-2006 - A petition has been filed with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) calling on the agency to revoke its approval of the sweetener Splenda, a move branded by manufacturer Tate & Lyle as a commercial conspiracy to damage its product's image.

Soft drinks firms pledge routine benzene tests

04-Apr-2006 - Soft drinks makers have been hauled before the European Commission to explain the presence of benzene traces in drinks, putting the industry under pressure after recalls in the UK.

US sugar industry wins round against Splenda

03-Apr-2006 - A federal court has dismissed a lawsuit brought by McNeil Nutritionals, the marketer of Splenda, against the Sugar Association, accusing it of false advertising.

California withdraws proposed acrylamide warning rules

03-Apr-2006 - California has withdrawn proposed rules that would have required food manufacturers to place acrylamide warning labels on certain products.

ADM files suit to protect soy isoflavone rights

31-Mar-2006 - The battle surrounding the technology rights for the production of soy isoflavones has been refired as Archer Daniels Midland files a lawsuit against a US firm for infringing patent rights.

UK soft drinks in benzene recall

31-Mar-2006 - Britain's food safety watchdog has demanded recalls on four soft drinks brands, after it found they were contaminated with benzene at up to 28 times the country's limit for drinking water.

Codex committee debates dairy standards

28-Mar-2006 - A Codex committee meets this week to hammer out international standards for the dairy industry, including contentious issues such as who can label their cheese as "parmesan".

Codex launches food additive info service

27-Mar-2006 - Codex has launched a searchable web-based version of its standard General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA) to inform food firms about the latest developments.

New rules could ban soda and junk food from Illinois schools

20-Mar-2006 - Elementary and middle schools in Illinois could be banned from selling junk food and soda in a move designed to improve children's health and mental abilities through good nutrition.

Industry one step closer to uniform safety labeling

10-Mar-2006 - The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a bill that would standardize food safety labeling requirements throughout the US, a move that would bring significant benefits to the food industry.

Safety guide proposed for growing fresh-cut produce market

09-Mar-2006 - A draft guidance on the processing of most fresh-cut fruits and vegetables sets out standards producers should follow in reducing food safety hazards.

Weekly Comment

The benzene trail

06-Mar-2006 - The gamble by US authorities 15 years ago to let the industry deal with benzene residues in soft drinks has failed, and instead only kept those who needed to know in the dark.

Congress debates uniform federal warning labels

03-Mar-2006 - The House of Representatives yesterday lunched a debate on a bill that proposes to create a uniform system for all food safety standards and warning labels on food products regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

FDA petitioned to define 'natural' label claims

03-Mar-2006 - The Sugar Association has filed a petition with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requesting the establishment of a clear definition for the use of the term 'natural' on food and beverage product labels.

More trans fats awareness set for 2006, says lawyer

01-Mar-2006 - When it comes to trans fats, "there will be a lot more awareness raising this year," according to the Californian attorney who successfully sued both Kraft and McDonald's over their use of trans fats, and who revealed his four next principle points of focus to FoodNavigator-USA.com.

More bottlers to sue Coca-Cola in distribution dispute

28-Feb-2006 - More than 50 bottlers have now lined up to sue Coca-Cola in the US in a move to stop the soft drinks group distributing its Powerade sports drink directly to Wal-Mart supermarkets around the country.