Regulatory
Stay informed on the latest natural food industry regulatory updates involving the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or United States Department of Agriculture(USDA), as well as news regarding lawsuits, labeling and class-actions. Understand the evolving natural food regulatory and legal environment which can directly impact your product claims, intellectual property, packaging and ingredients.
Featured Regulatory Content
Texas Gov. Signs Executive Order to Create Legal Hemp Framework
Texas governor Greg Abbott has signed an executive order mandating age restrictions on the sale of hemp-derived THC products, roughly three months after he vetoed a bill that would have outlawed the intoxicant entirely in the Lone Star State.
Smucker, Chubby Snacks Settle Trademark Suit
The J.M. Smucker Company has settled its lawsuit accusing now-defunct frozen sandwich startup Chubby Snacks of false advertising, trademark violations and disparagement in “years of advertising designed to tarnish the name and reputation” of Smucker’s competing Uncrustables brand.
Lawyers Call ‘Fraud’ on BellRing Brands, But One Analyst is Optimistic
BellRing Brands, maker of Premier Protein and Dymatize, is facing down a swarm of lawyers as multiple law firms specializing in shareholders rights have announced investigations into the publicly traded CPG company over allegations it violated securities laws.
Additional Content
FDA Allows Allulose to be Excluded from Total and Added Sugars
The FDA issued new draft guidance last week for allulose, stating it intends to allow manufacturers to exclude the low-calorie sweetener from total and added sugars on Nutrition Facts labels, marking the first time a sweetener will be exempt from the total or added sugars list.
Post Qualified Health Claim Status, Allergen Introduction Market Sees Growth
Brands’ — such as Puffworks — efforts to prevent peanut allergies have inspired other brands to develop products that offer the early introduction of other allergens.
FDA to Consumers: How Would You Define Dairy?
The FDA today announced it has issued a request for information (RFI) in the Federal Register to solicit comments and feedback from the public to gain more insight into how consumers use plant-based alternatives and how they understand terms like “milk” or “cheese” when used to label plant-based products.
Peatos CEO: Cheetos Trademark Claim Won’t Stop Brand Success
PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay division, which makes Cheetos, accused World Peas Brand’s Peatos of trademark infringement. PepsiCo alleges that Peatos’ name and paw-print logo are “confusingly similar” to Cheetos and that Peato’s slogan, “tigers live longer than cheetahs,” unfairly denigrates the Cheetos brand.
Regulatory Update: California to Block CBD Sales; FDA Tackles Alt-Dairy
In California, a revised FAW issued by the state Department of Public Health effectively prohibits the sale of hemp-derived CBD products, while the debate over defining an identity for the plant-based dairy category moves forward.
Industry Responds: RXBAR Sued for Allegedly Misleading Consumers with Clean Label
The lawsuit claims the brand misleads consumers with its front-of-pack design, and now the suit is driving many industry leaders to question what are the most effective ways to deploy clean label marketing strategies.
FDA Amends Fiber Labeling Restrictions
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced today that it has expanded its list of approved dietary fibers that can be listed on the updated Nutrition Facts panel.
A Breakdown of the USDA’s GMO Labeling Proposal
Don’t worry; the NOSH team read the more than 100-page document so you don’t have to. Here are the main takeaways.
That’s It Lawsuit Sparks Conversation Around Clean Label Branding
Front-of-pack “clean labels” have become one of the most important ways for brands to demonstrate their whole food characteristics. But it’s also becoming a source of legal tension.
Internal FDA Emails: There’s Weedkiller in Your Oatmeal
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) scientists have detected glyphosate, a chemical in a weed killer linked to cancer, in an array of commonly consumed U.S. based food products, according to emails obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.