A U.S. appeals court has ruled that USDA must amend the Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard to close the loophole that exempts certain “ultra-processed” foods (UPFs) from displaying label disclosures for genetically modified (GM) ingredients. Additionally, the court ruled that QR code-only disclosures are unlawful without explicit on-label statements.
The current campaign to require a cancer warning on alcohol containers will likely be hampered by the complex and thorny congressional action required to update the health warning statement. Nonetheless, alcohol industry members will need to carefully implement public relations, legislative, and litigation strategies to respond to this emphasis on the potential harms related to alcohol consumption.
West Virginia passed a bill known as the Truth in Food Labeling Act, restricting the language that can be used on labels for cell-based meats, plant-based meat alternatives, and other “analogue products,” such as insect-based foods. The bill awaits the Governor’s signature.
New food allergen labeling requirements recently came into effect in Australia and New Zealand. A guidance for industry has been published to help manufacturers, importers, and retailers with compliance.
Special labeling requirements for supplemented foods sold in Canada are coming into effect. The regulations are already in force, but supplemented foods that are eligible for the transition period have until December 31, 2025 to comply.
New EU legislation restricts the amount of green tea extract containing (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) that can be present in food and sets labeling requirements, for food safety reasons. EGCG is a catechin, which are flavinols that may lead to liver damage.
With a draft guidance, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has updated Questions and Answers Regarding Food Allergens, Including the Food Allergen Labeling Requirements of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (Edition 5); Guidance for Industry.
In response to a petition, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA’s FSIS) has decided not to revise the mandatory safe handling instruction (SHI) label for raw and partially cooked meat and poultry products.
