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

News in brief

FDA files complaint against New York cheese maker

08-Jul-2009 - The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken legal action against a New York-based cheese producer, claiming that unsanitary conditions at the company’s plant pose a public health risk.

Government outlines stricter food safety measures

07-Jul-2009 - The Obama administration has said it will propose new regulations to strengthen the US food safety system and create a position for a deputy food commissioner on Tuesday, according to newswire reports.

Weekly comment

Defining nano: Size does matter

07-Jul-2009 - The Atlantic Ocean separates continents; it also separates schools of thought on the definition of nanotechnology. In order to educate manufacturers and consumers on nanotechnology a definition is critical.

Codex adopts definition of ‘fiber’

06-Jul-2009 - The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) has adopted a new definition of fiber, designed to harmonize the use of the term around the globe.

News in brief

Canadian organic certification comes into effect

02-Jul-2009 - Canada’s new organic certification standards went into effect on Tuesday, June 30, opening up trade opportunities for Canadian organic products.

News in brief

FDA announces Reportable Food Registry discussion dates

30-Jun-2009 - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced three public meetings to discuss the Reportable Food Registry, to explain its role and the responsibilities of those who are required to submit a report.

US food industry enlisted in the battle to curb obesity

23-Jun-2009 - Top US nutrition experts together with health organizations and leading doctors have joined forces to ask President Barack Obama to combat obesity by creating a Presidential Commission on Healthy Weights, Healthy Lives.

Organizations oppose new food safety bill

18-Jun-2009 - The Food Safety Enhancement Act has been broadly welcomed by industry but a group of organizations has issued a letter to the relevant committee voicing strong opposition to several of the bill’s provisions.

US and Canada agree on organic equivalency

18-Jun-2009 - The US and Canada have come to an agreement on organic equivalency standards, expanding organic trade opportunities, US Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced on Wednesday.

News in brief

FDA chief prioritizes fresh produce safety

17-Jun-2009 - FDA head Dr Margaret Hamburg has said that stricter food safety standards are needed for fresh produce and other high-risk foods, in an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday.

Canada ponders junk food fortification

10-Jun-2009 - Health Canada is considering granting food makers discretionary powers to fortify “junk foods” to improve their nutritional profile and the diets of Canadians.

US extends antidumping duty on saccharin from China

09-Jun-2009 - The United States has extended an antidumping duty order on saccharin from China, after a review concluded that cheaper imports of the sweetener would damage the domestic market.

Dispatches from IFT

FDA: we can handle nanotech safety

08-Jun-2009 - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) already has sufficient authority to assess the safety of nanotechnology - but its regulation is not all to do with size, says Dr Annette McCarthy of the FDA.

Industry and consumer groups divided over FDA inspection fees

05-Jun-2009 - The issue of whether the FDA should charge food processors and manufacturers a $1000 fee to help fund food safety inspections has divided industry and consumer bodies.

FDA backs proposal for US industry fees to fund food inspections

04-Jun-2009 - A contentious proposal to compel US food manufacturers to contribute towards safety inspection costs took a step forward yesterday after the Food and Drug Administration signalled its backing for the idea.

FDA announces BPA safety review

03-Jun-2009 - The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said it is reviewing its advice that bisphenol A (BPA) is safe for use in baby bottles and food containers, pledging to announce its findings within weeks.

News in brief

China's new food safety law comes into force

01-Jun-2009 - Chinese authorities have said its new food safety law, which comes into effect today, will help prevent the food contamination incidents that have caused so much damage to the reputation of its domestic producers.

Bill bids to strengthen ‘dangerous’ US food safety regime

29-May-2009 - New legislation designed to strengthen the “dangerous” US food safety system as well as simplify its complex food supply chain has been tabled by key political figures from the House of Representatives.

New FDA bottled water rules to combat E. coli

28-May-2009 - Bottled water manufacturers, including Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, will face stricter standards following the Food and Drug Administration’s decision to implement new rules to prevent contamination with E. coli bacteria.

FDA failed over salmonella outbreak, says new chief

27-May-2009 - The recent outbreak of salmonella in the United States caused by contaminated peanut butter represented a “failure” by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the agency’s new commissioner said this week as she took up her post.

News in brief

Food safety group launches online resource site

27-May-2009 - An online food safety information site for consumers and those working in the area has been set up by the White House Food Safety Working Group.

Weekly comment

Cheerios: Drugs for breakfast?

25-May-2009 - When is a breakfast cereal not a breakfast cereal? Well, when it’s a drug.

Talking Point

Country-of-origin labeling: Not so COOL? – your views

22-May-2009 - FoodNavigator-USA.com asked readers for their views on US country-of-origin labeling (COOL) in light of Canada’s World Trade Organization complaint.

News in brief

Senate confirms Hamburg to head FDA

20-May-2009 - The US Senate confirmed Dr Margaret Hamburg as Food and Drug Administration Commissioner on Monday.