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News in brief

US distributor recalls ground beef products at centre of Canadian E.coli ‘blanket’ recall

29-Mar-2012 - A Canadian 'blanket' recall of frozen ground beef products feared to be tainted with E.coli O157:H7 has again been extended – this time by a distributor in the US.

Increased FDA scrutiny: 52% more warning letters last year

28-Mar-2012 - The number of warning letters issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rose sharply in 2011 – and with extra scrutiny expected under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), such warnings could become more costly in the year ahead.

News in brief

Frito-Lay lawsuits moved to be heard in same court

27-Mar-2012 - Three class action lawsuits accusing Frito-Lay of deception through all-natural claims on its packaging have been consolidated so all are heard in a New York federal court.

US appeals WTO ruling on country of origin labeling

27-Mar-2012 - The United States has said it will appeal a World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling on its country of origin labeling requirements, after the trade body said US policy violated international rules by creating barriers to free trade, including with Canada and Mexico.

FTC chairman on IWG proposal to curb junk food marketing food to kids: ‘It’s not a priority’

27-Mar-2012 - A controversial government proposal designed to curb the marketing of junk food to kids is not high up the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) priority list, it has emerged.

CDC food import outbreak concerns a “non-event” – import law specialist

27-Mar-2012 - US import law specialist FDAImports.com has played down an apparent increase in import-implicated foodborne disease outbreaks - describing the situation as a “non-event.”

Food processing CEO facing jail after guilty plea in tomato paste racketeering case

27-Mar-2012 - A former US food processing company CEO is facing up to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to racketeering and price fixing charges relating to the sale of processed tomatoes.

Are all-natural claims worth the risk?

26-Mar-2012 - The threat of civil litigation is now so great that food manufacturers using any ingredients not found in ‘Grandma’s kitchen cupboard’ should think twice about making ‘all-natural’ claims on pack, according to one firm specializing in food label compliance.

National Consumer League urges FDA crackdown on US lemon juice swindle

26-Mar-2012 - The National Consumers League (NCL) has urged the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to come down hard on some lemon juice producers for alleged ‘adulteration and misbranding’ of ‘100%’ lemon juice diluted with water.

ConAgra declares war on ADM in IP battle over white whole wheat flour

22-Mar-2012 - ConAgra has accused agrifood giant ADM of infringing a patent covering technology enabling it to produce high fiber whole wheat flour with the palatability and appeal of refined white flour.

‘Corn sugar’ LA hearing: Who are the defendants in HFCS lawsuit?

21-Mar-2012 - Attorneys for the Sugar Association and the Corn Refiners Association (CRA) went head to head at federal judge Consuelo Marshall's courtroom in Los Angeles at noon today as the dispute over the CRA’s right to describe high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) as ‘corn sugar’ moved into a new phase.

Risks of slashing sodium levels in cheese could outweigh benefits, US researcher

21-Mar-2012 - A prominent US researcher says that government pressure to cut sodium in cheese could have serious food safety, taste and labeling consequences, and questions the necessity of such a move given minimal evidence of positive health effects and muted consumer demand.

Caramel color controversy: New approach needed to assess chemical safety?

19-Mar-2012 - Some caramel color suppliers have changed their processes to avoid a cancer warning label in California – but current methods and data to assess its potential carcinogenicity in humans are limited, according to associate director of the National Toxicology Program (NTP).

Lack of funding stalls CDC food safety centers

19-Mar-2012 - Lack of federal funding has stalled the CDC’s establishment of five dedicated Food Safety Centers of Excellence, as required under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), according to the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP).

Steviol glycosides are not ‘all-natural’, says new class action lawsuit

16-Mar-2012 - A class action lawsuit filed in California this week argues that steviol glycosides should not be considered natural, owing to the "chemical processing" sometimes used to extract them from the stevia leaf.

Health Canada approves cholesterol-lowering claim for mono and polyunsaturated fats

16-Mar-2012 - Health Canada has approved a new health claim advising consumers that replacing saturated fats with mono- and polyunsaturated fats can reduce cholesterol.

Media foodborne illness outbreak communication needs work, say officials

15-Mar-2012 - Effective media communication can be crucial to prevent the spread of foodborne illness outbreaks and to avoid misinformation, global government officials said at a meeting to discuss lessons learned from recent outbreaks.

Fifty-five members of Congress urge FDA to label GE foods

14-Mar-2012 - Fifty-five members of Congress have written to FDA commissioner Margaret Hamburg in support of a petition urging the labeling of genetically engineered (GE) foods and food ingredients.

Caramel color suppliers rise to the low-4-MEI challenge – but question California decision

13-Mar-2012 - Caramel color suppliers have been working on low-4-MEI versions ever since California first started considering the compound’s inclusion on its Proposition 65 list four years ago – well before PepsiCo and Coca-Cola asked them to reduce 4-MEI levels late last week to avoid carcinogen warning labels in the state.

FDA guidance urges food firm Salmonella test caution

13-Mar-2012 - US food safety authorities have urged food manufacturers, processors, packager and distributors to “be aware” of the potential for false results when testing for Salmonella species (Salmonella spp.).

Vita Coco founder slams ‘copycat’ coconut water law suit, gets jokes about lawyers

12-Mar-2012 - Vita Coco co-founder and CEO, Michael Kirban, has hit back at Canadian law firm Consumer Law Group (CLG), calling its class action against his firm over product hydration claims a ‘copycat suit’ that would not distract the business.

Irradiation should be approved to eliminate food pathogens – Canadian researcher

09-Mar-2012 - A Canadian university professor believes low level irradiation should be permitted in the country to eliminate foodborne pathogens on ground meat.

Dispatches from Nutracon, Anaheim

Relaxation drink warning letter a warning shot across beverage industry, say attorneys

08-Mar-2012 - The FDA’s warning letter to the maker of melatonin-laced Slowtivate Relaxation Drink has reignited the debate over the legal line between liquid dietary supplements and conventional beverages - and should make some firms very nervous - say lawyers.

Governments should intervene where industry has failed for healthier diets: UN food expert

08-Mar-2012 - A UN food expert has charged the food industry with playing a key role in global obesity, saying that unhealthy food products, harmful marketing, and misguided agricultural subsidies have led to a public health disaster.