Regulation

UK government committee backs halving free sugars limit to 5%

The UK government’s Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) has ditched a 10% upper limit on sugar intake instead recommending that less than 5% of daily energy should come from...

Animal welfare will be ‘decisive criterion’ for lab-grown meat

Most people accept that animals have been slaughtered for meat because they have no choice – but lab-grown meat could change that, says Professor Mark Post.

FDA revises warning letter over HFCS and 100% natural claims to ‘avoid any confusion’

The FDA has removed a paragraph from a recent warning letter to a seafood company challenging ‘100% natural’ claims on a product containing high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), following an...

News in brief

Calorie labeling on chain restaurant menus to become mandatory by December 2016, says FDA

The FDA has pushed the effective date for new menu-labeling rules for chain restaurants and other outlets to December 1, 2016 – a year later than originally outlined - in...

Coca-Cola suffers setback in juice labeling lawsuit

A California judge has refused to throw out a false advertising lawsuit accusing Coca-Cola of misleading shoppers by marketing a juice comprised almost entirely of apple and grape juice as...

Whole Foods challenges evaporated cane juice lawsuit: Consumers ‘intuitively’ know ECJ is from sugar cane

Consumers intuitively associate ‘evaporated cane juice’ (ECJ) with sugar cane and are well aware that it is a sweetener, Whole Foods Market has argued in a motion to dismiss a...

The 2015 dietary guideline recommendations offer a chance to dissect the role of science in policy-making

The science behind the 2015 dietary guideline recommendations came under attack within hours of their publication, triggering an angry, ongoing debate about the recommendations’ validity, which a panel of experts...

GUEST ARTICLE: Why the FDA should take Health Canada’s lead and ditch its added sugars labeling proposal

Supporters of FDA proposals to list ‘added sugars’ on the Nutrition Facts panel say it will help consumers identify foods with more empty calories, while critics say our bodies don’t...

Kraft in legal hot water over 'natural cheese' and 'all-natural' Capri Sun

Kraft Foods Group has come under renewed fire over ‘natural’ claims this month, with a judge certifying a false advertising lawsuit over its ‘natural cheese’ and a plaintiff filing a...

Meal replacement regulation should consider consumers not just science: SNE

Any new regulation on total meal replacements should consider consumer expectations of taste and cost, not just science, says trade group Specialised Nutrition Europe (SNE).

DGAC defends the scientific basis of its recommendation, fights back against limiting legislation

Members of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee uncharacteristically fight back against criticism of its recommendations and ask Congress to drop proposed legislation that would effectively block regulators from acting...

FDA outlines when firms do not need to label major food allergens

Manufacturers do not need to label major food allergens if they can prove to FDA prior to distribution that the production process eliminates allergenic proteins from the product or that...

Florida consumer drops false advertising lawsuit v Hampton Creek over Just Mayo

A Florida consumer accusing Hampton Creek Foods of falsely advertising its Just Mayo spread has dropped her lawsuit against the company, her attorney has confirmed.

Has FDA's determination on PHOs provided ammo for new wave of class action lawsuits over trans fats?

While the FDA has given the food industry until June 2018 to phase out partially hydrogenated oils, its June 16 final determination that PHOs are not GRAS (Generally Recognized as...

Seeking a definition: What makes whole grains whole?

Whole grain foods should be promoted for health – but the term needs a standard definition to encourage innovation among food companies, say nutrition researchers.

Lawsuit over ‘100% natural’ claims on Nectresse monk fruit sweeteners to proceed

Johnson & Johnson’s Nectresse monk-fruit-based sweeteners were discontinued late last year owing to disappointing sales. However, a lawsuit challenging the products’ claims to be ‘100% natural’ is still very much...

FDA revokes GRAS status of partially hydrogenated oils; allows food industry to file petition to permit specific uses

As widely expected, the FDA has finalized plans to revoke the GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status of partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) in a bid to eradicate artificial trans fats...

Kashi agrees to pay up to $3.99m to settle 'all-natural' lawsuit; Campbell Soup under fire over Prego labels

New developments in three high-profile false advertising lawsuits underline the risks associated with making ‘all-natural’ claims on foods made with genetically engineered ingredients, with Kashi and Karlin Foods agreeing to...

Judge to FDA: When are you going to make a decision on evaporated cane juice labeling?

A federal judge in California has asked the FDA whether it is planning to clarify its position on evaporated cane juice (ECJ) labeling any time soon as confusion over whether...

Chocolate makers accused of leveraging 'loophole' on child slavery

The National Confectioners Association has hit back at U.S. senators it says mischaracterized the chocolate industry’s efforts on preventing labor rights abuses on cocoa farms in West Africa. But some Fair...

CFIA urges Canadian consumers to check infant formula for 'tampering'

Canadian consumers that purchase infant formula are being urged to check packs for signs of tampering and product substitution.

Bad news for Clemmy's in 'David vs Goliath' unfair competition lawsuit against Nestlé USA

Ice cream maker Clemmy’s – which hit the headlines in 2013 after filing a lawsuit* accusing Nestlé USA of leveraging its commercial clout and ‘category captain’ status with big retailers...

News in brief

Heinz clashes with Boulder Brands over ‘Smart Balance’ trademark on frozen foods

Heinz is urging a Pennsylvania court to reverse a decision by the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) allowing Boulder Brands to register ‘Smart Balance’ as a trademark for frozen...

Meet execs from Sparkling ICE, Chobani, Tio Gazpacho, NASA

Innovate or die: Introducing Food Vision USA... from 3D printing to personalized nutrition

Imagine a place where you can meet the entrepreneurs behind new food & beverage categories and retail channels; pioneers in the field of nutrigenomics, edible insects, and 3D printing; food...

EU regulatory deadlock welcomed by organic groups

EU ministers have failed to reach an agreement on proposed changes to EU organic regulation, pushing back a vote until June – a standstill that is welcomed by organic farming associations....