Greetings to our clients and guest subscribers!
We work to get your products properly labeled and
positioned
in the best light within the law so that your
efforts can be focused
on maximizing product sales.
We can help you today! Karen
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NOW THE NEWS!
*** EXTENDED COMMENT PERIOD ON TRANS FATS ***
FDA reopened the comment period to January 19, 2001,
for
proposed regulations that will require the amount of
trans fatty
acids present in foods and dietary supplements be
included
within the amount and percent Daily Value declared
for satur-
ated fatty acids on Nutrition Facts/Supplement Facts
panels.
The FDA proposal also discusses new and revised
definitions
for several nutrient content and health claims.
See reports at
www.fda.gov; scroll down, choose Federal Reg-
ister (under Reference Room). Request docket #
94P-0036.
*** USDA FINALLY DEFINES "Organic" ***
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released the
agency's
official definition of "organic". The rule is
effective 60 days
after its date of publication and will be fully
implemented 18
months after its effective date. The standards
require that
organic products are free from genetic engineering,
ionizing
radiation, and use of sewage sludge for
fertilization, as well as
meet production, handling and accreditation
requirements. In
its ruling, USDA emphasized that the "USDA Organic"
seal is
a marketing tool and does not imply that these foods
are safer
or more nutritious.
To read the rule, go to
www.fda.gov, choose Federal Register
(under Reference Room). Browse by Date: December 21,
2000, then select Contents (TXT), See Agricultural
Marketing
Services Rules, then view three documents under
Federal
Seed Act.
*** NEW POTASSIUM HEALTH CLAIM ***
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on
Oct. 31,
2000 that a new health claim stating "Diets
containing foods that
are good sources of potassium and low in sodium may
reduce
the risk of high blood pressure and stroke" will be
allowed on
foods that contain at least 350mg potassium (10%
daily value)
and 140mg or less of sodium. Qualifying foods must
have less
than 3g fat, 1g or less saturated fat, and 20mg or
less cholesterol.
Read about the notification at
http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/hclm-k.html
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FYI TIP: The Food Consulting Company helps clients
meet FDA
rules for Nutrition Facts format and type based on
package size
and nutrient content. For example, packages with
more than 40
square inches must include the long "Percent Daily
Values"
footnote, but smaller packages may use the shortened
footnote
and abbreviated nutrient names.