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FTC denied expansion of powers
25-Jun-2010 - The Federal Trade Commission will not be granted extra authority to police healthy foods and supplements marketing – among other powers – after a provision that would have done just that was removed from a Bill designed to reform Wall Street practices.
Supreme Court overturns ban on GM alfalfa planting
23-Jun-2010 - In its first ever assessment on genetically modified (GM) crops, the Supreme Court has overturned a ban on planting of GM alfalfa, with potential implications for GM crops throughout the US.
New federal policy proposals could damage dairy industry, says IDFA
14-Jun-2010 - Newly agreed supply management policy in the dairy sector could hurt industry by encouraging consumption of lower priced non-dairy foods, the International Dairy Foods Association has said.
FDA orders seizure of adulterated Chinese honey
11-Jun-2010 - FDA officials have seized 64 drums of honey imported to the US from China, because it is adulterated with an antibiotic that could cause serious illness or death.
Precaution should be watchword of FDA, says IOM
09-Jun-2010 - The Food and Drug Administration is not currently equipped to handle food safety problems and needs to switch to a risk based system, argues a report from the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council.
Kellogg’s escapes FTC fine over false immunity claims
04-Jun-2010 - The Kellogg Company will change immunity claims for Rice Krispies after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ruled the claims misleading – but ruled out a financial penalty.
‘Fat tax’ opposition varies by location, education
04-Jun-2010 - People living in the eastern parts of the United States are the most supportive of placing a tax on soft drinks and fast food as a way to deter obesity, but the idea is still opposed by the majority of the country’s consumers, finds a new survey.
Meat industry opposes legislation to require new E. coli tests
03-Jun-2010 - Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has introduced legislation to test for six E. coli strains that currently are not regulated – but the meat industry claims there are significant problems with the proposal.
Dingell calls for food safety action following latest salmonella recalls
01-Jun-2010 - Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich) has called for action on the Senate’s food safety bill, which has seen no attempt to move it forward since it passed from Committee with strong bipartisan support in November.
D.C. Council approves soda tax
28-May-2010 - The Washington D.C. Council has voted to include sweetened soft drinks in its six percent sales tax bracket to help bridge the city’s half-billion dollar gap between spending and earnings.
FDA, NIH to streamline online food safety reporting
25-May-2010 - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have launched a new online platform for the reporting and monitoring of food safety.
Nutter’s soda tax shelved as Philadelphia passes budget
21-May-2010 - Philadelphia City Council has shelved a proposed soda tax in the state, as it passed a $3.9bn budget on Thursday.
Proposed standards for food claims ‘unwise’, says industry
14-May-2010 - The US food and supplements industry has taken a skeptical stance to a new report that recommends the same scientific approach is used to evaluate health claims on foods and supplements as on drugs and medical devices.
Health Canada seeks comments on gluten-free labeling revision
14-May-2010 - Pure, uncontaminated oats do not cause adverse reactions in most people with celiac disease and gluten-free labeling guidelines should be revised to reflect this, Health Canada has suggested.
Candy tax due in Washington next month
12-May-2010 - A sales tax on certain candy and gum products is due to come into effect in Washington State on June 1, as part of the state’s effort to plug its $2.8bn deficit.
USDA aims to slash foodborne illness with new poultry standards
12-May-2010 - The US federal government has introduced new standards on Salmonella and Campylobacter in poultry with the aim of eliminating 65,000 foodborne illnesses a year.
US review gleans ideas from European food safety reforms
11-May-2010 - A US review has looked to some of the most effective European food safety systems for ideas on how to make the American system more effective.
New report shows gaps in FDA’s food import oversight
07-May-2010 - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) needs more authority to oversee imported foods, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has said in a new report.
Industry organizations welcome proposed legislation to tackle obesity
06-May-2010 - Trade organizations have applauded proposed legislation that would recognize obesity as a disease, and improve access to nutrition information and opportunities for physical activity.
FDA seeks industry comments on food safety during transport
03-May-2010 - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) on establishing guidance intended to reduce the risk of food contamination during transportation.
FDA calls for industry comments on front-of-pack nutrition labeling
29-Apr-2010 - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has called for comments from industry on its review of voluntary front-of-pack and other point of purchase labeling approaches.
Monsanto asks Supreme Court to lift alfalfa planting ban
28-Apr-2010 - Monsanto has asked the US Supreme Court to end a ban on planting of genetically modified (GM) alfalfa that was instigated due to environmental impact concerns back in 2007.
Proposed changes to food safety bill could open 'loopholes'
26-Apr-2010 - A consumer and public health coalition is urging a US Senator to reconsider exemptions proposed for the Food Safety Modernization Act as they would create a 'loophole' in safety regulations.
US position could pose problems for GM-free labeling, organizations claim
22-Apr-2010 - More than 80 food processing, farming and consumer organizations have called on officials to revise the US position on draft Codex food labeling guidance, saying it could cause problems for labeling food as GM-free.
FDA recommends greater conflict of interest transparency
22-Apr-2010 - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has called for more transparency regarding conflict of interest statements when the agency waives them to allow experts to participate in scientific advisory meetings.
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