INTOUCH Newsletter for FDA Regulations on Food Labels

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                                       ...INTOUCH...
    Monthly Updates on Government Action Affecting Food Labels
                                      August 2, 2002

               Brought to you by The Food Consulting Company
                            Your source for food label help
                              http://www.foodlabels.com

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Greetings!
The Food Consulting Company can take the stress out of your food
label project today. Visit our website http://www.foodlabels.com or
call us toll-free: 800-793-2844; Outside the USA: 858-793-4658.
We Can Help!

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US Senate and House Consider A Food Allergen Labeling Mandate
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Both the Senate and House of the 107th congress (current) have
introduced a bill that would amend the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act
to mandate new requirements on allergen labeling for food products.
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
(HELP) has scheduled a mark-up on legislation for September; the
House has taken no further action. Read the Senate (S2499) and
House (HR4704) bills by typing the bill number into BILL SEARCH
for 107th Congress at http://www.senate.gov/search/index.html

Author's Note: The National Food Processors Association (NFPA)
has alerted food processors to the allergen labeling bill and takes the
position that "...these labeling changes cannot be justified on public
health, scientific, or commercial speech grounds, and would impose
undue economic hardship on the food industry, siphoning resources
which are needed to address genuine public health needs." Read
the NFPA's action alert at:
http://congress.nw.dc.us/nfpa/issues/alert/?alertid=299326&type=CO

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       Oregon Voters to Decide on "Genetic Engineered" Labeling
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In November, Oregon voters will decide if food and food additives
that have been genetically engineered (GE) should be required to
be labeled as such. The requirement would apply to all foods sold in
Oregon (including stores and restaurants) as well as foods distributed
from the state. The GE label issue is being placed on the Oregon
ballot following a successful petition drive by pro-labeling groups.
Read Associated Press story at:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/health/79768_food24.shtml

Author's Note: If Oregonians vote to require GE labeling, there will be
far-reaching effects for the US food industry since all GE foods shipped
into the state will need to comply. Meanwhile, on the federal level,
FDA's Food Biotechnology Subcommittee will meet August 13-14 to
discuss science-based approaches to assessing whether new proteins
in genetically engineered foods are likely to cause allergic reactions;
the meeting outcomes will assist FDA in developing a draft guidance
for industry.

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      USDA Seeks Public Comment on Country of Origin Labeling
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking public comments on
how best to structure the "country of origin labeling" (COOL) guide-
lines mandated in the 2002 Farm Bill. Comments must be received
by USDA on or before Friday, August 9. Mandatory COOL provisions
are scheduled to become effective Sept. 30, 2004; retailers may
comply voluntarily before that date.   Read USDA news release at
http://www.ams.usda.gov/news/173-02.htm. Read text of COOL
provisions at http://www.ams.usda.gov/COOL/subtitled.pdf.

Author's Note: We reported on the COOL provisions in June 2002
INTOUCH. Then and now, we do not think the final rule will necessarily
require product packages to be individually labeled with country of
origin. For our own business, however, we will continue to follow
development of the guidelines so as to assure our clients' product
labels will be in compliance.

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FYI: The Institute of Medicine has released two reports that were
prepared on behalf of and at the request of FDA. These reports will
almost certainly affect rulings or guidance that FDA eventually pro-
vides on the topics.

Proposed Framework for Evaluating the Safety of Dietary Supple-
ments: http://www.nap.edu/html/dietary_supplements/NI000760.pdf

Letter on Dietary Reference Intakes for Trans Fatty Acids: (note: if
the link wraps on to two lines, please copy and paste into your
browser window).
http://www.iom.edu/iom/iomhome.nsf/WFiles/TransFattyAcids/$file/TransFattyAcids.pdf