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

News in brief

China's new food safety law comes into force

01-Jun-2009 - Chinese authorities have said its new food safety law, which comes into effect today, will help prevent the food contamination incidents that have caused so much damage to the reputation of its domestic producers.

Bill bids to strengthen ‘dangerous’ US food safety regime

29-May-2009 - New legislation designed to strengthen the “dangerous” US food safety system as well as simplify its complex food supply chain has been introduced by key political figures from the House of Representatives.

New FDA bottled water rules to combat E. coli

28-May-2009 - Bottled water manufacturers, including Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, will face stricter standards following the Food and Drug Administration’s decision to implement new rules to prevent contamination with E. coli bacteria.

FDA failed over salmonella outbreak, says new chief

27-May-2009 - The recent outbreak of salmonella in the United States caused by contaminated peanut butter represented a “failure” by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the agency’s new commissioner said this week as she took up her post.

News in brief

Food safety group launches online resource site

27-May-2009 - An online food safety information site for consumers and those working in the area has been set up by the White House Food Safety Working Group.

Comment

Cheerios: Drugs for breakfast?

25-May-2009 - When is a breakfast cereal not a breakfast cereal? Well, when it’s a drug.

Talking Point

Country-of-origin labeling: Not so COOL? – your views

22-May-2009 - FoodNavigator-USA.com asked readers for their views on US country-of-origin labeling (COOL) in light of Canada’s World Trade Organization complaint.

News in brief

Senate confirms Hamburg to head FDA

20-May-2009 - The US Senate confirmed Dr Margaret Hamburg as Food and Drug Administration Commissioner on Monday.

Canada approves high oleic acid GM soybeans

18-May-2009 - Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency have approved a high oleic acid genetically modified (GM) soybean for cultivation and foods containing the oil could hit the market by 2010, says DuPont.

Normal US access for EU foods is in sight, CIAA

15-May-2009 - Open trade in food products between the EU and US is on its way following the agreement over the beef hormone dispute this week, industry believes – even though the stand off is not fully resolved.

Country-of-origin labeling: Not so COOL?

14-May-2009 - FoodNavigator-USA.com asks its readers what they think of Canada’s World Trade Organization complaint over US country-of-origin labeling rules.

General Mills Cheerios cereal is a drug, says FDA

13-May-2009 - General Mills has been told to change the marketing of its popular Cheerios whole grain cereal, as the health claims it currently uses classify it as an unapproved drug.

Canada renews dispute over US COOL rules

13-May-2009 - Canada has renewed its World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute over US country-of-origin (COOL) labeling rules.

US state bans BPA in baby bottles

12-May-2009 - Minnesota has become the first US state to ban the use of the controversial chemical bisphenol-A (BPA) in baby bottles. Concern focuses on the possible effects of BPA leaching into babies' feed when bottles are heated.

Record FDA budget proposed as Hamburg clears Senate

12-May-2009 - Dr Margaret Hamburg, the Obama Administration’s pick to lead the FDA, easily cleared the Senate on Thursday, while the Administration proposed a record budget increase for the agency.

US to shelve Roquefort tariff hike

11-May-2009 - Proposed US tariffs of 300 per cent for Roquefort cheese are to be shelved under a new arrangement between the US Trade Representative (USTR) and the European Commission (EC).

How the EU health claims process could impact US

06-May-2009 - How will the new health claims system in Europe impact the state of play in the North American market? Lorraine Heller speaks to a leading international ingredients supplier about the potential marketing and regulatory implications.

Meat industry urges rethink on Chinese chicken

06-May-2009 - A group of meat industry representatives has sent a letter to President Obama urging a rethink of legislation banning imported cooked poultry from China, saying it breaches US trade obligations.

Plea for independent Canadian food agency

06-May-2009 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s dual mandate of public protection and food risk safety assessment is not working and should be replaced with an independent food safety agency, warns a leading food safety expert.

News in brief

Americans support subsidy cuts for large farms, says survey

05-May-2009 - Most Americans support cutting farm subsidies to large farming businesses, according to a new survey from www.worldpublicopinion.org .

Comment

Food safety reform: Not a century too soon

04-May-2009 - On a summer’s day in 1906 Theodore Roosevelt pushed through new food safety regulation. The Food and Drugs Act passed that day over 100 years ago was the last time the US food safety system was modernized.

FDA relaxes prior notice rule for food imports

24-Apr-2009 - The FDA’s Department of Health and Human Services has published a new guide on the Prior Notice rule for small companies involved in the import and export of foods in the US.

Obama nominates USDA nutrition and research undersecretaries

23-Apr-2009 - President Obama made two appointments within the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Friday, to run the department’s public nutrition programs, and to oversee US agricultural research and education.

New report calls for stronger local-level food safety systems

20-Apr-2009 - Holes need to be plugged in local and state-level food safety programs in order to effectively protect the public from foodborne illness, says a new report prepared with input from regional health officials.