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
Even The New Dietary Guidelines Want More Protein, Less Processing
“Eat real food.” That is the central message projected by the Trump Administration’s new Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
What Are the Implications of Natural Grocers’ GMO Labeling Case?
The USDA will be required to revise parts of its National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard after judges in the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals invalidated several “loopholes” that plaintiffs argued would have misled consumers.
A Year In Food Industry Upheaval: Trump, Tariffs and Titanium Dioxide
This year will go down in the history books as one marked by an unprecedented federal focus on the food industry, sparking strategic overhauls of, and a bit of panic within, Big Food operations; a flurry of state-level action against a plethora of synthetic ingredients; and the adoption of some new acronyms – UPFs and MAHA, just to name a few.
Additional Content
Millennial Preferences, Not Purchases, Shape Grocery
The USDA report examines how millennials spend their time and money in regards to food, how their eating habits differ from other generations and how their shopping behaviors are expected to continue to shape the food industry landscape in the future.
What FSMA Changes Mean for CPG
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced last week that it will not actively enforce certain areas of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). One provision in particular has the potential to impact CPG supply chains.
IPA Proposes Probiotic Guidelines for Food
The nonprofit trade organization has submitted a proposal to create an updated definition and a set of “harmonized” international guidelines for the use of probiotics in foods and dietary supplements.
Industry Leaders: Consumers ‘Biggest Losers’ in Animal Welfare Rule Withdrawal
Friday’s announcement that the U.S. Department of Agriculture would decouple animal welfare standards from federal regulations around organic certification has caused outcry and debate among natural and organic food industry leaders. Now, the Organic Trade Association and its allies believe the rule’s withdrawal will impact food sourcing, pricing and certification, both for packaged and fresh food alike.
FDA Issues Guidance for GRAS Panels
Last week, the FDA issued a guidance to food manufacturers on the best practices for using third-party certification. The goal is to avoid claims of bias or accusations of a conflict of interest against the hired experts.
An Industry in Limbo: GMA Responds to FDA’s Closer Look at Fiber
Under the new Nutrition Facts regulations, the types of ingredients that would count towards dietary fiber levels was severely reduced. Earlier this year the FDA announced it would review 26 additional isolated and synthetic ingredients to be recognized as acceptable, however, after almost a year with no guidance or updates on the review, the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) is asking for answers.
Why CPG Leaders Want to Standardize ‘Use By’ Labels
The Consumer Goods Forum announced last month that it’s looking to trash current expiration date labels to help reduce food waste not only within the U.S. but around the world.
FDA Extends Nutrition Label Compliance Deadline to 2020
Under the Obama administration, brands had until July 26, 2018, to adjust all packaging. With the new extension, manufacturers with $10 million or more in annual food sales will now have until Jan. 1, 2020; manufacturers with less than $10 million in annual food sales have until Jan. 1, 2021.
Takeaways From Pretzel Crisp’s 7-Year Trademark Battle
The legal saga between Snyder’s-Lance, the maker of Pretzel Crisps, and PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay, maker of Rold Gold’s Pretzel Thins, seems to be only beginning.– and the ongoing court proceedings are already serving as a cautionary tale to emerging food and beverage brands.
Industry Responds to New Peanut Allergy Advice
While children fear monsters under their beds, parents of children with allergies fear a different kind of demon: peanuts. But, according to two recent studies, peanut allergies may be avoidable with the controlled, early introduction of peanuts to babies. The FDA has taken note and its change in stance is sending waves throughout the food industry.