Regulation

07-Mar-2012 - The firm behind ‘breathable’ caffeine shot AeroShot Energy has promised to amend its marketing to make it clear that it should be ingested – and not inhaled – following a warning letter from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

‘Infodemiology’ on the rise to tackle foodborne illness outbreaks

07-Mar-2012 - Analyzing the distribution, or epidemiology, of foodborne illnesses is a standard tool in controlling outbreaks, but infodemiology – the analysis of information distributed on the internet – could help minimize the impact of outbreaks in the future.

US state food safety ‘tweets’ will help prevent potentially lethal outbreaks - FSIS

06-Mar-2012 - State-specific food safety ‘tweets’ will help US consumers identify affected products and prevent potentially lethal foodborne outbreaks, the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has claimed.

Closing arguments in FTC case vs POM Wonderful due today

06-Mar-2012 - Closing arguments in the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) high-profile false advertising case against POM Wonderful will begin today at 1pm EST.

Canadian food safety budget cut will see imports inspections drop – union

05-Mar-2012 - Canadian food safety budget cuts will see imports inspections reduced, meaning “greater food safety risks for Canadians”, the union that represents federal food safety inspectors has warned.

News in brief

Nutrition labeling rule for raw meat and poultry takes effect

05-Mar-2012 - Nutrition labeling became mandatory on March 1 for 40 of the most popular cuts of raw meat and poultry, as well as ground and chopped meats, under a new Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) rule.

Unilever, Nestlé, Kellogg et al accused of patent infringement over HDL-boosting fats

05-Mar-2012 - Some of the biggest names in US food manufacturing – including Nestle, Kellogg and Unilever - have been accused of infringing patents covering fats that alter the ratio of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ cholesterol in the blood.

General Mills files motion to dismiss fruit snacks lawsuit: ‘We never said they were healthful and nutritious’

02-Mar-2012 - General Mills has filed a motion to dismiss a class action lawsuit accusing it of presenting products that were “little better than candy” as “healthful and nutritious”.

Jensen Farms Listeria monocytogenes contamination: Lesson learned?

01-Mar-2012 - US authorities are yet to establish regulations relating to third-party food plant auditors – six months after the start of an outbreak later attributed to lacklustre third-party inspection practices.

Brazil OJ exporters accept US carbendazim defeat

01-Mar-2012 - The Brazilian orange juice and concentrate industry has admitted carbendazim-related defeat, after efforts to increase allowable levels of the fungicide in orange juice product shipments were shot down by US food safety officials.

Brazil OJ exporters accept US carbendazim defeat

News in brief

Three-quarters of carbendazim-tested OJ shipments enter the US - FDA

29-Feb-2012 - Almost three-quarters of all orange juice and concentrate shipments attempting to enter the US have tested negative for carbendazim, US food safety officials have confirmed.

Quaker Oats motion to dismiss trans-fat lawsuit rejected

29-Feb-2012 - A court in Illinois, USA has rejected Quaker Oats’ motion to have a deceptive advertising case against it dismissed and has halted proceedings until four similar actions in California are resolved.

Who is driving the clean label agenda, and what does clean really mean?

27-Feb-2012 - Attempts to link ‘all-natural’ clean-labeling policies with the healthy eating agenda have been so successful that research now shows shoppers equate ‘healthy’ with ‘natural’ or ‘minimally processed’ foods.

Expanded record access will cut exposure to tainted food - FDA

27-Feb-2012 - US food safety authorities will be given expanded access to food firm records under a new interim ruling – a move it hopes will prevent potentially harmful food entering the food supply and reaching consumers.

FDA offers support in industry roll-out of Facts Up Front labeling

24-Feb-2012 - The FDA wrote to the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) and the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) in December in support of the trade groups’ front-of-pack labeling program, saying it would exercise enforcement discretion for certain aspects of the scheme.

FDA: Proposed rule on changes to Nutrition Facts panel due by end of 2012

24-Feb-2012 - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is aiming to publish a proposed rule to reform the Nutrition Facts panel and related rules by the end of this year, somewhat later than originally expected.

News in brief

Florida House rejects food stamps junk food ban

24-Feb-2012 - A Florida House subcommittee has rejected a proposal to restrict food stamp spending on less healthy foods and beverages, such as sodas and candy.

Back to basics to tackle coming shortage of food safety auditors

23-Feb-2012 - There could be an impending shortage of food safety auditors in the United States, rooted in a lack of food safety emphasis in the US education system, says director of food safety solutions at DNV Business Assurance Kathleen Wybourn.

US-EU trade deal could benefit organic manufacturers, stabilize prices

23-Feb-2012 - Last week’s organic equivalency agreement between the US and the EU is expected to have a significant impact on the trade of organic products – and many are likely to be finished foods rather than agricultural products, according to organic research firm Organic Monitor.