Tag Archives: LABELING

Louisiana Laws to Limit Use of Terms “Meat,” “Rice,” “Sugar” and “Milk” on Food Product Labels

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On June 11, Louisiana joined a growing number of states, including Missouri and Arkansas, that have enacted legislation aimed at protecting traditional agricultural products from the growing popularity of plant-based and cell-based meat products or riced vegetables. Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards signed two bills into law aimed at prohibiting the use of common labeling … Continue Reading

OEHHA Confirms Final Carcinogen/Coffee Rule on Twitter

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In a tweet published on June 3, 2019 California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) announced that its draft Proposition 65 regulation regarding listed carcinogens in coffee had been finalized and will become effective on October 1, 2019.  The regulation states that exposures to Proposition 65 carcinogens listed on or before March 15, 2019, … Continue Reading

USDA Updates FAQs Regarding BE Labeling

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As previously reported on this blog earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) posted Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and responses for manufacturers concerning its bioengineered (BE) food labeling rule (formally known as the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard (NBFDS)). We pointed out in that blog that the FAQs were not … Continue Reading

FDA Endorses “Best If Used By” Label for Food

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Packaged food and beverage products for retail sale contain an array of date labels, such as “Use by,” “Best If Used By,” “Expires On,” etc. Ultimately, with few exceptions, such as labels for infant formula, data labels are not required on packaged foods. While manufacturers are prohibited from placing false or misleading information on a … Continue Reading

USDA Posts FAQ regarding BE Labeling and Promises Future Guidance

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has issued an FAQ for manufacturers concerning its bioengineered (BE) food labeling rule (formally known as the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard (NBFDS)).  The final rule was issued in December 2018 and does not come into effect for several years, but questions are being raised by industry regarding … Continue Reading

FDA Encourages Participation in Voluntary Plant Biotechnology Consultation Program and Revises Guidance on Voluntary Labeling of Foods Derived Plant Biotechnology

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Given the increased prevalence of plant biotechnology to develop innovative foods, FDA is reminding industry of its voluntary consultation program to ensure the safety of and public confidence in plant biotechnology-derived foods.  FDA describes “plant biotechnology” as “certain methods scientists can use to introduce new traits or characteristics to a plant.” FDA has assisted in … Continue Reading

KIND Petitions FDA to Update Nutrient Content Claim Regulations

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On March 12, 2019, snack bar producer, KIND, submitted a Citizen Petition to the FDA asking the agency to update the framework for regulating nutrient content claims (NCCs). In sum, the petition requests that FDA consider the overall quality of the food, rather than just the quantity of a certain nutrient when regulating nutritional claims … Continue Reading

Arizona Legislators Join Cell-Cultured Meat Labeling Debate

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As previously reported on this blog, there has been considerable discussion around the regulation of cell-cultured meat both at the federal and state levels. Earlier this month, USDA and FDA published a formal agreement regarding federal agency oversight of human food produced using cell technology. Under the formal agreement, FDA will oversee cell collection and … Continue Reading

‘Dairy Pride Act’ Introduced Again

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As previously reported on this blog, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin’s (D-WI) introduction of the Dairy Pride Act  in 2017 was met with controversy. On March 14, 2019, Sen. Baldwin, along with Sens. Jim Risch (R-ID) and Mike Crapo (R-ID), reintroduced The Defending Against Imitations and Replacements of Yogurt, milk, and cheese to Promote Regular Intake … Continue Reading

Putative Class Action Filed Against Walmart, Costco, Amazon and Others Alleging Coffee is Falsely Labeled as “Kona”

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Amazon, Walmart, Costco Sued Over Fake ‘Kona’ Coffee (subscription to Law360 required) Section 43(a) of the Lanham Act (15 U.S.C. 1125) permits a civil action for, among other reasons, “false designation of origin.”  To prevail, a plaintiff must prove the designation of origin is false, that it is used in a commercial advertisement (e.g., a … Continue Reading

New York Judge Lifts 2-Year Stay on KIND “All Natural” Suit (subscription to Law360 required)

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A New York federal court ordered a consumer class action against KIND LLC to move forward after a two-year stay. Consumers are suing KIND for allegedly mislabeling its snack products as both “non-GMO” and “all natural,” even though the products purportedly contain synthetic and genetically modified ingredients.  On September 15, 2016, U.S. District Judge William … Continue Reading

Plant-Based Milk Labeling Comment Period Ends; Debate Continues

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As previously reported in September on this blog, FDA requested comments on the use of dairy terms—such as milk, yogurt, and cheese—in the labeling of plant-based products. FDA’s Standards of Identity define milk in part as the “lacteal secretion, practically free from colostrum, obtained by the complete milking of one or more healthy cows.” The original deadline … Continue Reading

New Nebraska Bill Defining Meat as Derived from Livestock or Poultry

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Last week, we blogged about Nebraska Legislative Bill 14 (LB 14), which would have limited the use of the term “meat” to the edible portions of livestock or poultry carcasses.  It would have specifically excluded insect- or plant-based products as well as lab-grown products from the definition.  Under the proposed bill, engaging in any misleading … Continue Reading

New York City Considers Warnings for Restaurant Foods High in Added Sugar

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Following on its 2015 sodium warning regulation, New York City is considering a bill that would require chain restaurants to display a warning symbol and related text next to menu offerings that are high in added sugar.  “Added sugar” is defined as “sugars and syrups put into foods during preparation or processing.” The bill, which … Continue Reading

FDA Issues Technical Amendments to Final Nutrition and Supplement Facts Rule

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FDA will publish in the December 21, 2018 Federal Register a final rule that makes technical amendments to its 2016 final rule on Nutrition and Supplement Facts labeling.  The amendments, which are not substantive in nature, affect both 21 C.F.R. 101.9 (“Nutrition labeling of food”) and 21 C.F.R. 101.36 (“Nutrition labeling of dietary supplements”). While … Continue Reading

Second Circuit Remands “Whole Grain” Cheez-It Lawsuit

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The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit held that a New York district court erred in ruling that labeling Kellogg’s Cheez-It crackers as “whole grain” was not misleading, despite the fact that the snacks were primarily made from enriched white flour.  Thus, the Second Circuit vacated the decision and remanded the case … Continue Reading

California Proposes Amendments to Proposition 65 Regulation on the Responsibility to Provide Consumer Product Warnings

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In response to confusion regarding Section 25600.2 of the new Article 6 warning regulations, California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has proposed amendments to clarify how a product manufacturer—and other parties that may receive the products before the retailer—can pass warning information (and the responsibility to warn) along the supply chain and ultimately … Continue Reading

Stakeholder Comments Reflect Discontent with FDA’s Draft Guidance for Quantitative Labeling of Supplements Containing Live Microbials

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FDA’s regulation on nutrition labeling of dietary supplements requires that dietary ingredients for which a Reference Daily Intake (RDI) or Daily Reference Value (DRV) has not been established must be listed inside the Supplement Facts label along with their quantitative amount by weight per serving in metric units, as described in 21 CFR 101.36(b)(3).  For … Continue Reading

FDA Issues Statement Regarding Labeling Coffee as a Carcinogen Consistent with California Proposition 65

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California Proposition 65 requires manufacturers to provide clear and reasonable warnings to consumers before exposing them to over 950 listed carcinogens, including acrylamide.  As reported in this blog yesterday, California’s regulations for reporting the presence of the carcinogens have changed.  Also as previously reported in this blog, producers of roasted coffee have been sued under … Continue Reading
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