Breaking News on Food & Beverage Development - North AmericaEU edition | Asian edition

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.

News in brief

Do consumers have a right to know whether foods have been made with GM ingredients?

05-Oct-2011 - A coalition of nearly 400 businesses and organizations has delivered a petition to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) calling for the mandatory labeling of genetically engineered (GE) foods.

Bunge allowed to reject Syngenta’s GM corn, court rules

04-Oct-2011 - A federal judge has ruled that agricultural processing giant Bunge will not have to process Syngenta’s biotech corn, rejecting Syngenta’s request that Bunge should be obliged to accept the corn until a lawsuit is resolved.

Super strength drinks firm bullish despite ‘deceptive advertising’ claim

04-Oct-2011 - A US firm accused by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) of deceptive advertising doesn’t believe it violated any laws, despite agreeing to repackage and label its super-strength alcoholic products.

Industry steams ahead with FOP labeling scheme days before IOM report is due

27-Sep-2011 - Food manufacturers have unveiled plans to pump $50m into promoting the Nutrition Keys front-of-pack (FOP) labeling scheme just days before the release of an independent report on the merits of a range of FOP schemes from the Institute of Medicine (IOM).

Sugar prices kept artificially high, say US bakers and confectioners on reform path

27-Sep-2011 - Last week, hundreds of confectioners and bakers gathered on Capitol Hill, the meeting place of the US congress, to call for an end to the sugar price support programme, which they claim is keeping sugar prices artificially high and forcing food companies out of business.

Canadian energy drink ‘drug’ designation not in consumer interest, CBA

26-Sep-2011 - Tough new regulations concerning classifying energy drinks as 'stimulant drug containing drinks' in Canada are not in the interest of consumers, according to the Canadian Beverage Association (CBA).

News in brief

FDA makes $6.5m food safety grant

26-Sep-2011 - In a bid to optimise US food safety inspection results, the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has set aside a $6.5m grant to improve the current food safety system.

North American demand for honey spurs purity certification offering

19-Sep-2011 - A market for Indian honey in the North American market has prompted Intertek to launch a honey certification service for manufacturers and exporters in India.

Campbell settles lawsuit over low sodium label claims

13-Sep-2011 - The Campbell Soup Company has settled a lawsuit for $1.05m, in which four New Jersey women claimed that the company’s ‘less sodium’ claim on tomato soup was misleading.

News in brief

Judge dismisses Hormel lawsuit over ‘natural’ labels

13-Sep-2011 - A federal judge has dismissed Hormel Foods’ claim that meat products containing sodium lactate or potassium lactate are misbranded as ‘natural’, because the USDA has not issued a final agency action, according to court papers.

IFT to lead FDA product tracing pilot studies

13-Sep-2011 - The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) has said it will lead two pilot studies for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to identify the fastest methods for product tracing, as required under the Food Safety Modernization Act.

Senate bill could provide extra $50m FDA funding

09-Sep-2011 - The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved an extra $50m of funding for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2012 – the only non-security agency to receive increased funding under the appropriations bill.

Law professors: Kids marketing proposals do not violate First Amendment

08-Sep-2011 - An Interagency Working Group’s recommendations for limiting food industry advertising to children do not violate First Amendment rights, according to an advocacy group of law professors in a letter to federal agencies.

Néstle Waters hit with $50m class action

06-Sep-2011 - Néstle Waters is the subject of a $50m class action, filed by a US customer who has accused the drinks giant of an 'oppressive and fraudulent scheme' regarding late payment fees, in a complaint filed with New Jersey Federal Court.