Regulation

29-Jan-2010 - A bill under scrutiny in the United States Senate would create a new nanotechnology risk assessment program within the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Natural beta-carotene gains GRAS status

29-Jan-2010 - A new range of natural carotenoids destined for human consumption moved a step closer to sale recently with GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) notification from the Food and Drug Administration for Microbia’s bio-based beta-carotene for food and beverage applications.

Fresh New York soda tax plans stir up the obesity debate

26-Jan-2010 - Michael Bloomberg, the New York City mayor, has lent his support to fresh plans for a penny-per-ounce soda tax in the city.

Dean Foods to fight Justice Department’s anti-trust lawsuit

25-Jan-2010 - Food and beverage giant Dean Foods has pledged to fight the anti-trust lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice requiring the company to sell the dairy processing plants it acquired from Foremost Farms in April 2009.

Special edition: weight management

Regulation: Claim making and claim taking

22-Jan-2010 - In a world with a chronic ‘globesity’ problem spreading beyond western shores to places like India and China, products that promise to help individuals manage their weight via calorie control, fat burning, satiety, or some other mechanism, enjoy rampant demand.

Monsanto case against alfalfa ban reaches the Supreme Court

18-Jan-2010 - The Supreme Court has agreed to review a court order that halted the planting of genetically modified alfalfa made by Monsanto.

Tyson agrees to pay $5m in ‘antibiotic-free’ chicken settlement

15-Jan-2010 - Meat giant Tyson has agreed to pay $5m to settle a class action law suit brought by US consumers over claims its processed chicken was antibiotic free.

Dairy trade body says FDA labeling study is too narrow

13-Jan-2010 - The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) has criticised a planned Food and Drug Administration (FDA) study into front of pack nutrition labels for not having a wide enough scope.

Peanut processor facing fines for safety breaches, worker death

08-Jan-2010 - Birdsong Corp peanut processing company is facing fines of $137,250 after being cited for 41 health and safety violations by authorities in the United States.

News in brief

EFSA, FDA, Health Canada to discuss health claims

07-Jan-2010 - The European Food Safety Authority, US Food and Drug Administration, and Health Canada will share a platform at an upcoming Cantox-hosted health claims conference.

Mississippi to consider soda tax

06-Jan-2010 - Mississippi state representative John Mayo has introduced legislation to tax the syrup used to sweeten soda at a distribution level, according to local reports.

Phthalate action plan draws industry fire

06-Jan-2010 - The publication of US Government action plans on how to manage risks posed by a range of controversial substances, including phthalates, has drawn stinging criticism from the chemical industry.

Californian trans fat ban takes effect

04-Jan-2010 - California has become the first state to ban the use of trans fat-containing cooking oils, as a law signed by Governor Schwarzenegger in 2008 came into effect on January 1.

Food landmarks 2009: Safety scandal

23-Dec-2009 - As the old year draws to a close, we review the significant waypoints of 2009 and look ahead to what is likely to dominate next year’s news. Join us now for a whistle-stop tour of the news topics that made the headlines on our flagship food and nutrition websites in North America and Europe.

Health Canada proposes enzyme use to counter acrylamide

22-Dec-2009 - Health Canada has asked for comments on its proposal that asparaginase enzymes could be used to combat the suspected carcinogen acrylamide in food.

News in brief

Syngenta receives GM corn approval in Argentina

22-Dec-2009 - Syngenta has received approval for its double-stacked trait for genetically modified corn in Argentina, combining herbicide tolerance and pesticide resistance, the company said on Tuesday.

FSIS seeks comments on meat nutrition labeling

21-Dec-2009 - The US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) has said it is seeking comments on proposed nutrition labeling of single ingredient ground or chopped meat and poultry products.

Government proposes controls on foods marketed to kids

16-Dec-2009 - A federal working group has drawn up proposals for voluntary nutritional standards for foods and beverages marketed to children and young people under the age of 18.

Comment

Bisphenol A becomes test of leadership for FDA

14-Dec-2009 - Each day the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) dithers in delivering its verdict on the safety of bisphenol A (BPA), its authority is diminished and its credibility wanes.

Tyson clashes with FDA over 'serious violations'

04-Dec-2009 - Tyson Foods has challenged an FDA-assessment that one of its Texas food processing plants had committed “serious violations” of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation.

Call for Ghana cocoa to be removed from US child labor list

03-Dec-2009 - Retention of Ghana produced cocoa on the US Department of Labor’s list of goods produced by child or forced labour could hinder efforts to eliminate the practice, claims a senior politician of the major cocoa supplying country.

Nebraska organic farm to lose certification

03-Dec-2009 - A 22,000-head beef and dairy cattle farming operation based in Nebraska and Missouri, Promiseland Livestock, will lose its organic certification for four years, a Washington, DC judge has ruled.

Senator Feinstein introduces food safety bill with food maker focus

02-Dec-2009 - Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif) has introduced food safety legislation that would require all food producers to take responsibility for certifying that finished products are pathogen-free.

News in brief

China lifts Canadian pork ban

02-Dec-2009 - China has reopened its borders to imports of Canadian pork, although its ban on live swine is still in place, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said on Tuesday.

Investment group seeks urgent FDA ruling on BPA

02-Dec-2009 - The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is failing in its job to protect consumers from exposure to chemicals such as Bisphenol A (BPA) by missing the publication deadline on its re-evaluation of the safety of the packaging component, warns a ‘green’ investment fund.