Del Mar, CA (June 29,
2005) --
In less
than 6 months, on January 1, 2006, nearly all
FDA-regulated food products labeled for sale in the
U.S. must comply with new FDA requirements for trans
fat and food allergen labeling. FDA published the
final rule for trans fat labeling July 9, 2003; the
Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of
2004 was signed into public law on August 2, 2004.
January 1, 2006, is the deadline for both compliance
issues.
Despite the lengthy time period between publications of requirements and
the compliance date, many labelers have not yet initiated steps to
revise labels. “Small cottage companies tend to fall into this
category,” explained Karen Duester, president of Food Consulting
Company. “Such companies often don’t dedicate personnel to following
changes in food labeling regulations and are just now learning about the
upcoming deadline for trans fat and allergen requirements because of
alerts from Food Consulting Company and late breaking industry press
coverage.”
Duester is encouraging trade publications to include alerts and to
direct readers to
www.foodlabels.com/2006 for a summary of what is required. The
summary includes links to government websites that provide complete
details for what is required and a link for companies to request expert
food label help from Food Consulting Company.
The January 1, 2006 requirements affect nearly all FDA regulated food
labels. Not since 1993, when compliance for the Nutrition Labeling and
Education Act of 1990 became mandatory, have so many labels required
revision.
In her communications with food companies, Duester has also found food
labelers fearing that once labels are updated, they will need to make
further but not yet specified changes. However, the fact is, labels that
meet the January 1, 2006, requirements will require no additional
changes until at least January 1, 2008, which is the next uniform
compliance date. FDA sets uniform dates to lessen the economic impact
that labelers would experience if changes were mandatory upon
publication of new regulations.
Concerned parties can keep up-to-date on food labeling regulation
changes by subscribing to Food Label News, a free monthly email
newsletter, at
www.foodlabels.com/subscribe.
Food Consulting Company, based in Del Mar, CA, and the largest
out-source provider assisting food companies in meeting FDA and USDA
labeling requirements, offers a full range of food labeling services.
The company can be reached at
www.foodlabels.com, or by calling 800-793-2844.
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Click here to view a
2006-compliant Nutrition Facts Panel, showing allergen and trans fat
information.
