April 2018 - Volume 18, Number 4
Hello from Food Label News! From April showers to full blown spring! We overview topics for FDA and USDA collaboration in our lead article this month. In the Food Label Community, we continue the dialogue about FDA’s anticipated final rule for an extended compliance date for new Nutrition Facts labeling expected this spring. Have a question? Pose it to the Food Label Community and hear others’ perspectives on it. If we can help, let us know!
In this issue:
Happy Spring,
Karen C. Duester, President, Food Consulting Company
FDA and USDA Collaborate to Reduce Regulatory Burdens
As food labelers are well aware, the U.S. has two regulatory agencies for food products. FDA has authority for most foods like dairy, seafood, produce and packaged foods, whereas USDA regulates most meat, poultry, catfish and certain egg products. The agencies have identified three areas of shared concern and have recently agreed to collaborate to streamline regulations.
View FDA and USDA joint press releases here.
Bullseye: The idea of a single food agency with regulatory responsibility for all food has been proposed several times within the last decade. The food industry welcomes the new interagency collaboration, yet must continue to look to both FDA and USDA for food labeling regulations and guidance. It’s critical therefore to understand which of your products are covered by USDA’s 9 CFR rules and which are covered by FDA’s 21 CFR rules.
What’s News in the Food Label Community
Answers to Your Important Questions
Q.
When calling out the grams of protein on the front-of-pack, which protein value
(actual or adjusted) is declared in the callout and which is used on the
nutrition facts label?
— B.E., R&D Scientist, California
A. The actual protein value expressed in grams is always required on the Nutrition Facts label and is the same value used when calling out the grams of protein elsewhere on the label. MORE
In Case You Missed It...
Accuracy and Consistency for a Major National Retailer’s Private Label Food Vendors
What Matters Most in Food Labeling
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