Volume
7, Number 7 - July 2006
IN THIS ISSUE:
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About Food Consulting Company
"Thank you for your swift response. We
are pleased with the work you have done for
us, and will definitely use your company
again in the future."
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Dear Readers,
Increase the value of time spent reading Food
Label News. Send your food labeling question for
consideration in an upcoming issue of the
monthly newsletter. Each month Food Label News
answers the question that has the greatest
appeal to the readership. Your answer could be
answered for free. Learn more about the new
Reader Q&A Spot in
Food Label News, May 2006. |
Q. What is
FDA's stand on GMO labeling?
K.W., Food Importer/Broker, Connecticut
A. This is a question we encounter
from time-to-time from food importers and others
who request full service label help on their
products. Certain label statements are allowed,
while
others such as "GMO-free" are not. See
Reader Q&A Page
for the complete answer.
To submit a question
for future consideration, please send us an
email. |
FDA Warns on Food Labels Additives/Claims
In a May 31, 2006, letter to a candy bar maker,
FDA warns that candy bars containing folic acid
are adulterated since folic acid as an
ingredient is subject to a food additive
regulation (21CFR172.345). The regulation does
not allow the addition of folic acid to candy
products because of possible serious health
repercussions in some people. FDA also warns
that the candy bar labels bear false or
misleading claims (e.g., "Promotes a Healthy
Heart"), as well as claims that promote the bars
for uses that cause them to be drugs (e.g.,
"Formulated to Help Reduce Bad Cholesterol").
Read
FDA warning letter.
Commentary: Writing label claims that are
compliant with FDA regulations can be tricky and
time consuming. Companies can receive prompt,
expert help in developing FDA-compliant claims by
purchasing an
Ongoing Regulatory Support
Plan from Food Consulting Company.
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Physicians Urge Changes in Sodium
Allowances
In a June 13, 2006, press release, the American
Medical Association (AMA) announced its
recommendations that would require FDA to:
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revoke the "generally recognized as safe"
(GRAS) status of salt
-
develop regulatory measures to limit sodium
in processed and restaurant foods
-
improve labeling to assist consumers in
understanding the amount of sodium contained
in processed food products
-
develop label markings and warnings for
foods high in sodium
Read
AMA press release.
Commentary: A consumer advocacy group
filed a lawsuit in February, 2005, with demands
similar to AMA; see
Food Label News, March
2005. FDA
has struggled to meet demands to require lower
sodium content in commercially-prepared foods.
In October 2005, the Agency published a final
rule on sodium levels for the term healthy and
in that rule identified technological barriers
and poor consumer sales as inhibitors to
reducing sodium content below certain levels.
See
Food Label News archive (June
2002, March 2003, October 2005) for
background on FDA and lower sodium levels.
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FDA Continues Obesity Working Group Plan
On June 2, 2006, FDA announced findings from the
report, Keystone Forum on Away-From-Home Foods:
Opportunities for Preventing Weight Gain and
Obesity. On advice from the 2004 Obesity Working
Group, FDA commissioned a facilitator (Keystone
Group) to develop a consensus among
representatives from industry, government,
academia, and the civic sector on what can be
done to support consumers' ability to manage
calorie intake while consuming away-from-home
foods.
The report makes a number of recommendations
including:
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away-from-home food establishments should
provide consumers with calorie information
in a standard format that is easily
accessible
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marketing should shift from promoting
higher-calorie/calorie-dense foods and large
portions to increased promotion of
lower-calorie and less-calorie-dense foods
-
more less-calorie-dense menu items should be
offered
Read
FDA press release.
Commentary: At this time, restaurant menu
items are exempt from nutrition labeling unless
they bear nutrition claims. Restaurants
increasingly provide this
information to consumers on a voluntary basis.
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Service Tip: Restaurant Nutrition/Allergen
Labeling
Food Consulting Company helps restaurants
provide all types of nutrition and allergen
information to meet customer needs and demands,
including calories and fat per serving for
individual items and meal combinations.
For more information
If your
company has a product or service complementary
to the services of Food Consulting Company and
you would like to talk about featuring it in
this newsletter, please send us an
email. |
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© Food Consulting Company, 2006
13724 Recuerdo Drive, Del Mar, CA 92014 USA
tel 800-793-2844 or 858-793-4658
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