Regulation

01-Apr-2011 - A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee examining the link between food coloring and hyperactivity has narrowly voted against recommending European-style warning labels on products containing artificial food colors in the US.

Class action lawsuits set to ‘explode’ in health claims arena

01-Apr-2011 - A potent combination of lawyers on the make, a rise in activism from consumer lobby groups and food manufacturers pushing the envelope with more aggressive health claims is set to prompt an “explosion” in class action lawsuits in the coming years, according to legal experts.

Organic farm groups file legal challenge against Monsanto

31-Mar-2011 - The Public Patent Foundation (PUBPAT) has filed a lawsuit against Monsanto aiming to prohibit the biotech seed giant from suing farmers if their non-GM crops should become contaminated with patented seed.

High lead levels in chewing gum force recall

31-Mar-2011 - Findings by the US authorities indicating elevated levels of lead in a chewing gum product has led to a recall of the gum by US confectionery firm Candy Dynamics.

Industry body stresses importance of import safety

30-Mar-2011 - The Grocer Manufacturers Association stressed the importance of ensuring food import safety yesterday, in comments submitted ahead of an FDA meeting on implementing the import safety measures of new food safety law.

News in brief

China publishes draft dairy trade rules

30-Mar-2011 - The Chinese government has published new draft regulations for the import and export of dairy products.

News in brief

GM alfalfa decision prompts new lawsuit

21-Mar-2011 - The Center for Food Safety and Earthjustice have filed another lawsuit against the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) arguing that the agency’s January 27 decision to deregulate genetically modified alfalfa was unlawful.

Food safety fragmentation still a problem, says GAO

21-Mar-2011 - The establishment of a Food Safety Working Group in 2009 was a ‘positive first step’ but more work is needed to address fragmented oversight of US food safety, says the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

Canadian agency to name food safety offenders

21-Mar-2011 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has said it intends to name companies that violate Canada’s food safety regulations in an effort to improve accountability and transparency.

Industry urges Congress to reject user fees to fund food safety

15-Mar-2011 - A coalition of 16 food industry groups has written to key leaders in Congress urging them to reject increased user fees to fund the Food Safety Modernization Act.

Kraft and Saputo lose legal challenge against Canadian cheese standards

09-Mar-2011 - An attempt by Kraft Canada and Saputo to overturn Canadian government standards on the composition of cheese has been dismissed by the Federal Court of Appeal.

Ocean Spray wins quality certification for cranberry products

07-Mar-2011 - Massachusetts-based Ocean Spray has become the first sweetened dried cranberry manufacturer to achieve Safe Quality Food (SQF) certification for food manufacturing and distribution.

News in brief

China mulls bisphenol A ban in baby bottles

03-Mar-2011 - China is considering banning the use of bisphenol A (BPA) in polycarbonate baby bottles, according to state-run media.

Closer scrutiny of US food imports promised

02-Mar-2011 - Exporters to the US and domestic importers can expect much closer scrutiny of their food safety controls, following the signing of the Food Safety Modernization Act by President Barack Obama in January.

News in brief

Cargill earns FDA GRAS for omega-6 form

01-Mar-2011 - Agri-food giant Cargill has received a GRAS non-objection letter from the Food and Drug Administration for its arachidonic acid (ARA)-rich oil (ARA).

Court overturns order to destroy GM sugar beets

28-Feb-2011 - A federal appeals court in San Francisco has overturned a previous ruling to destroy genetically modified (GM) sugar beets, ruling in favor of Monsanto and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Kraft loses appeal in Starbucks distribution dispute

28-Feb-2011 - A US Court of Appeals has upheld a previous court decision denying Kraft’s request for a preliminary injunction against Starbucks, paving the way for the coffee giant to end a distribution deal on March 1.

Colorado may regain soft drinks tax exemption

25-Feb-2011 - Colorado may regain a tax exemption for sugary soft drinks after a House Republican plan to remove recently imposed taxes passed the state’s finance committee on Wednesday.

Senator Leahy calls for Peanut Corp. investigation update

24-Feb-2011 - Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) has written to the Department of Justice to demand an update on its investigation of former Peanut Corporation of America president Stewart Parnell.

Potato producers could face price fixing lawsuit

23-Feb-2011 - The United Potato Growers of America, which represents about 80 percent of the United States’ producers of fresh and process potatoes, could face a massive lawsuit accusing it of price fixing.

Health Canada to fund nutrition education for isolated communities

22-Feb-2011 - The Canadian government has pledged C$4.43m of funding over the next two years for nutrition education initiatives, as part of the new Nutrition North Canada program for isolated northern Canadian communities.

Relaxation drinks are ‘looking for trouble’, says food and drug attorney

22-Feb-2011 - Makers of relaxation beverages could face problems in light of the FDA’s draft guidance on the distinction between dietary supplements and beverages, says New York-based food and drug attorney Marc Ullman.

CSPI seeks caramel coloring ban

18-Feb-2011 - The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) claims that some caramel colorings may cause cancer, and has called on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban them in foods and beverages.

Soda tax proposal fizzles in Hawaii

16-Feb-2011 - The latest proposal to tax soda at a state level has fizzled, as Hawaiian Senators have voted against a plan to tax sugary drinks by up to 25 cents a bottle.

FDA requests extra funding for food safety law in 2012 budget

16-Feb-2011 - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has requested a record $4.3bn budget for fiscal 2012, including $324m to start implementing the Food Safety Modernization Act.