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Special edition: Front-of-pack nutrition labeling

Front-of-pack poll results: No clear winner (except cynicism…)

01-Nov-2011 - There is no clear winner in the front-of-pack labeling stakes, according to the results of the latest FoodNavigator-USA poll. Unless you count cynicism…

Consumer group calls HFCS corn sugar campaign ‘food identity theft’

28-Oct-2011 - Non-profit consumer group Citizens for Health is the latest organization to oppose the Corn Refiners Association’s petition to allow ‘corn sugar’ as an alternative label declaration for high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).

Industry decides safety of about one-third of food additives, review finds

28-Oct-2011 - The safety of about one-third of food additives in the US food supply has been decided by industry, without review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), claims a new report.

Jury finds for Novozymes in patent infringement case against Danisco

27-Oct-2011 - Danisco was told by a US court to pay Danish food ingredients producer Novozymes $18.3m in damages for patent infringement.

Vilsack calls for innovation and more diversity in US food supply

26-Oct-2011 - There is a need for greater diversification of the American food supply and US diets need to change, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in his keynote speech at the launch of the Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition (BCFN) in the United States.

Court dismisses ‘processed’ fiber case

26-Oct-2011 - A Chicago district court has dismissed a complaint alleging that General Mills and Kellogg Company should have specified on-pack that their Fiber One, Fiber Plus and other bars contained “processed” fiber.

IOM front-of-pack labels are step in right direction but need more work, says Guiding Stars advisor

25-Oct-2011 - The Institute of Medicine’s (IOM’s) proposed front-of-pack (FOP) labeling scheme is a positive step forward, but "needs much more work”, according to supporters of one leading FOP scheme already up and running in the marketplace.

Consumer groups file complaint over ‘stealth’ PepsiCo ads

25-Oct-2011 - Consumer groups have filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) against PepsiCo and its subsidiary Frito-Lay, claiming that it uses deceptive and unfair marketing techniques to attract teenage customers.

‘Corn sugar’ lawsuit attempts to shut down free speech, claims CRA

24-Oct-2011 - A lawsuit that claims it is misleading to market high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) as ‘corn sugar’ and ‘natural’ has been allowed to go ahead – but the Corn Refiners Association (CRA) has called it an attack on free speech.

Industry welcomes new US free trade agreements

24-Oct-2011 - Free trade agreements signed last week with Colombia, Panama and South Korea will be critically important for increasing US food exports to these markets and create a level playing field for US manufacturers, the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) has said.

What changes should be made to the Nutrition Facts panel?

24-Oct-2011 - The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) is hosting a webinar early next month to discuss the anticipated scope of proposed reforms to the Nutrition Facts panel.

Front-of-pack labeling poll: Facts up Front or a points-based system? Tell us what you think

21-Oct-2011 - Front-of-pack (FOP) nutrition labels are designed to help busy shoppers make rapid, but more informed, choices about which foods are healthier.

Comment

IOM front-of-pack labeling scheme: It’s bold, it’s simple and I love it. But is it fair?

21-Oct-2011 - The Institute of Medicine (IOM) certainly didn’t pull any punches in its front-of-pack labels report yesterday.

Bakers hail CFTC vote as ‘step in right direction’ to stop index funds sending commodity markets into a spin

21-Oct-2011 - Moves to impose position limits on non-commercial hedgers in commodity markets mark an important step in the right direction to tackle volatility in wheat futures, says the American Bakers Association (ABA).

POM prepares for battle with Ocean Spray as FTC false advertising case drags on – and on…

18-Oct-2011 - It is now increasingly likely that a judgment in the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) false advertising case against POM Wonderful will not be issued before POM squares up with rival Ocean Spray next month at a trial the cranberry juice giant has unsuccessfully been trying to delay until the FTC case is over.

General Mills on fruit snacks lawsuit: ‘We stand behind our claims’

17-Oct-2011 - General Mills has defended its fruit snacks after lobby group The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) and law firm Reese Richman launched a class action against the food giant accusing it of presenting products that were “little better than candy” as “healthful and nutritious”.

First seizure of food under new food safety law

14-Oct-2011 - Officials have seized food products for the first time under the provision of the Food Safety Modernization Act, after they found “widespread and active rodent and insect infestation” at a Dominguez Foods facility in Washington State.

Canadian food recalls up as inspections increase

14-Oct-2011 - The number of food recalls in Canada has increased in the past year – and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) says it is a trend that is likely to continue, as it boosts the number of inspectors and frequency of testing.

Agencies to weaken voluntary marketing guidelines

12-Oct-2011 - The federal agencies behind proposed voluntary guidelines on marketing foods and beverages to children appear to have backed away from some of their earlier recommendations, responding to industry concerns.

Canada outlines proposed regulations for energy drinks

07-Oct-2011 - The Canadian government has put forward a proposal for energy drinks to be regulated as foods rather than as natural health products, which could see a raft of new labeling and formulation requirements for energy drinks in Canada.

FDA commissioner Hamburg renews call for food safety funds

06-Oct-2011 - Upcoming standards for the food industry will represent a watershed in US food safety, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) chief Margaret Hamburg said at a food policy conference this week – but she renewed her call for more funding to ensure the agency can do its job.

Tooth ‘disfigurement’ law suit without merit: Nestlé Waters

06-Oct-2011 - A law suit has been filed against US drinks giants Nestlé USA, Nestlé Waters and the Gerber Products Company, after a young girl claimed that fluoride in their products severely damaged her teeth.

'Total' war in yogurt fixture as Fage tackles General Mills in trademark dispute

06-Oct-2011 - One of the nation’s biggest yogurt brands has launched a blistering attack on the US Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) after it sided with General Mills in a ruling that has prompted two lawsuits in less than a fortnight over the use of the word ‘Total’ on food packaging.

Krill oil dispute turns ugly as new patent prompts wave of litigation

05-Oct-2011 - The biggest players in krill oil are at war again - this time over a US patent awarded to Neptune Technologies & Bioressources, which its arch rival argues should never have been granted, and Neptune has immediately moved to enforce in the courts.