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Animal welfare group slams EU organics verdict

24-May-2012 - Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) has criticised the decision to recognise US organic food standards as equivalent to those in the EU.

Attorney: POM ruling is a 'stunning rejection' of FTC's stance on 'gold standard' clinical trials to support product claims

22-May-2012 - While POM Wonderful does not emerge from Michael Chappell’s 335-page ruling smelling entirely of roses , it has successfully challenged the accepted wisdom that firms can only make claims about food or supplements if they are backed at least two ‘gold standard’ human trials, say lawyers.

Nature’s One step-up efforts to cut arsenic levels in baby formula

22-May-2012 - Organic infant formula manufacturer Nature’s One will step-up its efforts to minimise and eliminate the presence of environmental contaminants such as arsenic in its products.

Both sides claim victory as judge rules in FTC v POM false advertising case

21-May-2012 - Both sides have claimed victory in a bitter legal dispute between Californian juice maker POM Wonderful and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over allegations of false advertising.

FSIS and beef industry praised for pre-emptive E.coli action

21-May-2012 - The US beef industry and the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) have been showered with praise after showing “strong initiative” in their efforts to prevent E.coli contamination during processing.

News in brief

Bills to suspend duty on some imported confectionery introduced in US Congress

21-May-2012 - Two bills to temporarily suspend the duty on certain imported filled chocolates and synthetic-sweetened chewing gum have been introduced to Congress in the US.

Sugar reform advocates ‘disappointed’ with lack of policy debate

21-May-2012 - Sugar users have said they are disappointed that both the Senate and House Agriculture Committees have voted to advance the 2012 Farm Bill without amending current sugar policy, which they claim costs the US food industry by inflating domestic sugar prices.

Game, set and match for Coke in bitter Minute Maid juice dust-up?

18-May-2012 - A US federal appeal court has dismissed an appeal by a Coca-Cola rival alleging that a Minute Maid product containing ‘pomegranate and blueberry’ juice in small amounts by volume was falsely labeled and advertised.

News in brief

Survey reveals food policy attitudes divided along party lines

18-May-2012 - A new survey from FoodMinds suggests that US attitudes to food policies are largely divided along party lines, with 75% of Democrats saying that government should dedicate more time to food policy issues, compared to just 39% of Republicans.

Soda tax heads for November ballot in Richmond, CA

18-May-2012 - On November 6, voters in Richmond, California will decide whether to apply a penny-per-ounce tax to sugar-sweetened beverages after city council members voted 5-2 this week to include the measure on the ballot, despite strong opposition from the beverage industry.

Judge denies Hostess’ bid to reject Teamsters contracts

16-May-2012 - Bankruptcy Judge Robert Drain has denied Hostess Brands’ bid to scrap labor contracts for members of its largest union, the Teamsters, in a move that leaves Hostess having to rethink its options for exiting bankruptcy.

FoodDrinkEurope tackles trade barriers in US

16-May-2012 - EU trade group FoodDrinkEurope teamed up with the European Commission (EC) on a delegation to the US at the end of last week aimed at building stronger export links.

Comment

Nation's bulging waistline is a food industry issue

15-May-2012 - Americans are getting fatter – and it’s not just the individual that needs a health check, according to a new IOM report. Like it or not, this health crisis has plenty of implications for the food industry.

General Mills must defend ‘made with real fruit’ claim for Fruit Roll-Ups, court rules

14-May-2012 - General Mills has lost its motion to dismiss a lawsuit that claims the company deceived consumers about the fruit content of its Fruit Roll-Ups and Fruit by the Foot.

It’s all hands on deck to implement FSMA in 2012 – PriceWaterhouseCoopers

11-May-2012 - PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has warned the US food industry that 2012 will be “all hands on deck” to implement the provisions of the Food Safety Modernisation Act (FSMA).

Health Canada mulls prebiotic labeling and advertising rules

10-May-2012 - Health Canada is considering new rules for the labeling of prebiotics in foods, which could mean some food companies have to drop or modify existing health claims, the agency has said.

FDA nanotechnology draft guidance represents ‘marginal progress’ – petition group

09-May-2012 - US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) draft guidance on the use of nanotechnology in food and food contact substances represents only “marginal progress” towards regulation of the technology, a petition group has claimed.

IOM report recommends changing food environment to tackle obesity

09-May-2012 - Smaller portion sizes, curbing food marketing to children, cutting sugary drink intake and boosting availability of healthy foods are among policy recommendations in a new report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM).

Californian GMO labeling: What would it mean for food companies?

07-May-2012 - The Californian ‘Right to Know’ campaign in support of labeling foods and ingredients produced using genetic engineering looks set for inclusion in the state’s November ballot, after it attracted nearly a million signatures. If enacted, what would the proposed law mean for food manufacturers?

'Pre-emptive’ measures will accelerate tainted product identification - USDA

04-May-2012 - The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has outlined a series of measures to conduct future meat product trace backs in a “pre-emptive” manner to catch E.coli O157:H7 contamination at an earlier stage.

Nutrition and gluten labeling could see shake-up under FDA strategic plan

03-May-2012 - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a new strategic plan for food and nutrition over the next four years, including new initiatives related to food labeling and collaboration with industry on public health goals.

Streamlining measures will reduce food safety regulations ‘red tape’ – Health Canada

02-May-2012 - The Canadian government has taken steps to streamline its food safety laws – reducing the ‘red tape’ that currently delays safe products entering the market.

Ferrero backs away from Nutella health claims in $3m class action settlement

30-Apr-2012 - Ferrero has settled a class action lawsuit over its advertising of Nutella for $3m, and has agreed to change the product’s labeling and advertising, according to court documents.

Mad cow disease case won’t impact processors – American Meat Institute

26-Apr-2012 - A rare case of mad cow disease in the US is unlikely to have a significant impact on the processing sector, according to the American Meat Institute (AMI).