Regulation

10-Feb-2012 - Consumer groups have petitioned the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to alter the process by which it assesses the safety of AquaBounty’s fast-growing genetically engineered (GE) salmon.

Sugar industry claims corn refining companies are ‘running away’ from false advertising charges

08-Feb-2012 - Attorneys for the Sugar Association have accused individual member companies of the Corn Refiners Association (CRA) of running away from charges of false advertising, in papers filed in a federal court.

Frito-Lay accused of deception in second lawsuit on all-natural claims

06-Feb-2012 - PepsiCo’s snacks business Frito-Lay has again been accused of deceiving consumers in a second lawsuit by making all-natural claims on its products which also contain genetically modified corn and vegetable oils.

IFT and FAO agree to form food safety partnership

06-Feb-2012 - The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have agreed to form a food safety partnership, with the aim of cooperating toward achieving a safe, sufficient, and accessible food supply, according to IFT.

US and Canada compromise on organic equivalency for certain meats, dairy

02-Feb-2012 - The United States and Canada have taken another step toward organic equivalency, with US organic standards for dairy, beef, sheep, goat and bison now considered equivalent to Canadian requirements.

FDA takes action against unsanitary cheese factory

01-Feb-2012 - The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is taking action to halt production at a New York cheese manufacturing facility after numerous food safety failures.

Florida bill to prohibit “junk” SNAP food purchases passes committee

01-Feb-2012 - A Florida State Senate Committee has passed a bill intended to restrict purchases of certain foods under nutrition assistance programs, such as Food Stamps, or SNAP (Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program).

Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act hits low-fat flavoured milk

01-Feb-2012 - The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has published regulations governing US school meal programmes that will eliminate low-fat flavoured milk from reimbursable meal options for children.

Hawaiian task force to examine link between sugary drinks and health

01-Feb-2012 - Hawaiian governor Neil Abercrombie has said he won’t push for a soda tax this year – but he will establish a task force intended to reduce Hawaiians’ consumption of sugary beverages and try to find a solution to childhood obesity.

Industry groups urge federal funding for food safety

31-Jan-2012 - An industry coalition led by the American Frozen Foods Institute (AFFI) has urged the Obama administration to adequately fund food safety initiatives, without levying extra taxes or industry fees.

Brazilian orange juice detained after positive carbendazim results

30-Jan-2012 - US food safety officials have denied entry to 11 shipments of orange juice products, including five from Brazil, after carbendazim was found in import samples.

Nestlé wages war with Mead Johnson over nutritional drinks bottles design

30-Jan-2012 - Nestlé and Mead Johnson - two of the biggest guns in infant nutrition - have become embroiled in a row over the design of bottles used by both firms to package their nutritional drinks.

MA governor proposes taxing soda and candy

30-Jan-2012 - Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick has proposed eliminating a sales tax exemption on soda and candy in the state as part of the state’s 2013 budget, and plough extra taxes raised into public health programs.

Expect ‘considerable growing pains’ as FSMA kicks in, warns lawyer

26-Jan-2012 - While the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) will undoubtedly “raise the floor” and increase confidence in the US food supply, experts are predicting “considerable growing pains” as the industry gets to grips with the new legislation.

Egg laying hen welfare proposal prompts diverse criticism

26-Jan-2012 - Proposed legislation to formalize an agreement over welfare conditions for egg laying hens been criticized by farmers for involving the politics of animal welfare, and an animal welfare organization for endorsing “abusive confinement systems”.

Revising food packaging standards will reflect industry practices - USDA

26-Jan-2012 - The revision of US food container inspection law has been proposed, with the aim of bringing the regulation up to speed with 21st century food packaging technology.

House bill aims to formalize improved egg laying hen conditions

25-Jan-2012 - A bipartisan group of Representatives has proposed a bill aiming to standardize improved conditions for egg laying hens across the country, in an effort to avoid a patchwork of state laws.

‘Critical’ food safety focus in poultry inspection will save $90m - USDA

24-Jan-2012 - A proposal to modernise poultry inspection in the US will focus resources on areas critical to ensuring food safety while reducing the burden on the taxpayer, the US government has announced.

Life under the Food Safety Modernization Act: Tracing, tracking and brand protection

23-Jan-2012 - The ability to track and trace ingredients is likely to be a major focus for food manufacturers as the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) is rolled out – but the most important consideration for companies is brand reputation, according to a FSMA specialist at ADT Security Services.

FDA yet to find any trace of carbendazim in orange juice

23-Jan-2012 - The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is yet to find any trace of carbendazim in imports of orange juice since promising to block entry to shipments containing the fungicide.

‘Cheese makes you chubby’ New York billboards scream

20-Jan-2012 - The US-based Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) has taken shock tactics to consumers by posting two huge billboards in New York warning of what it claims are the obesity-related dangers of eating cheese.