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

New proposals represent shift in food safety strategy, FDA

03-Aug-2009 - The US Government has announced further measures to curb the spread of food-borne diseases such as E.coli just days after lawmakers approved the bill overhauling the country’s food safety system.

House passes landmark food safety bill

31-Jul-2009 - The US House of Representatives passed a food safety bill on Thursday that promises far-reaching reform of how food is processed and grown, intended to boost food safety and consumer confidence.

Trade liberalization linked to Central American obesity: Study

30-Jul-2009 - Trade liberalization in Central America has led to increased imports and availability of processed food, contributing to nutrition and obesity problems in the region, according to a new study.

US food safety bill defeated - or just delayed?

30-Jul-2009 - The sweeping bill to overhaul the US food safety system was rejected yesterday over fears of imposing excessive burdens on farmers and that its hurried legislative passage had prevented proper scrutiny.

US giving too much food safety control to foreign countries

29-Jul-2009 - The United States is giving away too much control to some foreign countries over food safety as trade concerns over-ride health issues, a leading US politician has said.

News in brief

China tightens food processing laws

27-Jul-2009 - Food producers in China must record all food processing procedures and keep records for least two years under a new food safety regulation that came into force today.

News in brief

FDA seeks comments on Ajinomoto’s Advantame sweetener

24-Jul-2009 - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has asked for comments on Ajinomoto’s request for approval of a new sweetener that it hopes to market under the brand name Advantame.

Don’t wait for fall to act on food safety, says CU

17-Jul-2009 - Every day that Congress delays in passing the Food Safety Enhancement Act puts more lives at risk, Consumers Union is claiming – and had the provisions been in place this year’s ‘deadly peanut debacle’ may never have happened.

Egg production prices to rise following new regulations

09-Jul-2009 - Egg prices may rise as producers are hit by new costs as a result of food safety measures.

News in brief

FDA files complaint against New York cheese maker

08-Jul-2009 - The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken legal action against a New York-based cheese producer, claiming that unsanitary conditions at the company’s plant pose a public health risk.

Government outlines stricter food safety measures

07-Jul-2009 - The Obama administration has said it will propose new regulations to strengthen the US food safety system and create a position for a deputy food commissioner on Tuesday, according to newswire reports.

Comment

Defining nano: Size does matter

07-Jul-2009 - The Atlantic Ocean separates continents; it also separates schools of thought on the definition of nanotechnology. In order to educate manufacturers and consumers on nanotechnology a definition is critical.

Codex adopts definition of ‘fiber’

06-Jul-2009 - The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) has adopted a new definition of fiber, designed to harmonize the use of the term around the globe.

News in brief

Canadian organic certification comes into effect

02-Jul-2009 - Canada’s new organic certification standards went into effect on Tuesday, June 30, opening up trade opportunities for Canadian organic products.

News in brief

FDA announces Reportable Food Registry discussion dates

30-Jun-2009 - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced three public meetings to discuss the Reportable Food Registry, to explain its role and the responsibilities of those who are required to submit a report.

US food industry enlisted in the battle to curb obesity

23-Jun-2009 - Top US nutrition experts together with health organizations and leading doctors have joined forces to ask President Barack Obama to combat obesity by creating a Presidential Commission on Healthy Weights, Healthy Lives.

Organizations oppose new food safety bill

18-Jun-2009 - The Food Safety Enhancement Act has been broadly welcomed by industry but a group of organizations has issued a letter to the relevant committee voicing strong opposition to several of the bill’s provisions.

US and Canada agree on organic equivalency

18-Jun-2009 - The US and Canada have come to an agreement on organic equivalency standards, expanding organic trade opportunities, US Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced on Wednesday.

News in brief

FDA chief prioritizes fresh produce safety

17-Jun-2009 - FDA head Dr Margaret Hamburg has said that stricter food safety standards are needed for fresh produce and other high-risk foods, in an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday.

Canada ponders junk food fortification

10-Jun-2009 - Health Canada is considering granting food makers discretionary powers to fortify “junk foods” to improve their nutritional profile and the diets of Canadians.

US extends antidumping duty on saccharin from China

09-Jun-2009 - The United States has extended an antidumping duty order on saccharin from China, after a review concluded that cheaper imports of the sweetener would damage the domestic market.

Dispatches from IFT

FDA: we can handle nanotech safety

08-Jun-2009 - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) already has sufficient authority to assess the safety of nanotechnology - but its regulation is not all to do with size, says Dr Annette McCarthy of the FDA.

Industry and consumer groups divided over FDA inspection fees

05-Jun-2009 - The issue of whether the FDA should charge food processors and manufacturers a $1000 fee to help fund food safety inspections has divided industry and consumer bodies.

FDA backs proposal for US industry fees to fund food inspections

04-Jun-2009 - A contentious proposal to compel US food manufacturers to contribute towards safety inspection costs took a step forward yesterday after the Food and Drug Administration signalled its backing for the idea.