Happy New Year, and welcome to January's Label Alert. In this issue, USDA's ERS takes a closer look at food labels, the Trump administration says no to more humane treatment of "organic" animals, HHS report raises concerns about FDA and food safety, and more. Plus, take advantage of the $100 early bird registration discount on Prime Label's 2018 Food Label Conference--hurry, offer ends January 15.
Should 'USDA Organic' Animals be Treated More Humanely? The Trump Administration Just Said No.
The Trump administration ruled on [December 15] that livestock deemed "USDA Organic" need not be treated any more humanely than the animals in conventional farming. The decision reverses years of policy at the Agriculture Department, which, through the "USDA Organic" label, dictates what may be sold as "organic" food in the United States.
HHS Inspector General Report Illustrates More Needs to be Done on Food Safety, Transparency
The HHS Inspector General's office released a report that raises serious concerns about how well the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) protects Americans from unsafe food products.
USDA Seeks Public Input on Child Nutrition Food Crediting
USDA announced a public invitation to submit ideas on food crediting, the system that defines how each food item fits into a meal for the National School Lunch Program and other federal child nutrition programs. The information collected will help USDA officials better understand its diverse stakeholders' perspectives on navigating today's evolving food and nutrition environment.
USDA Announces Changes to U.S. Beef Grade Standards
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced ... that it is updating the voluntary U.S. Standards for Grades of Carcass Beef.
The Dirt on 'Organic' Food: You May be Paying for Fakes
Costa Rican farmer Jose "Pepe" Castro Otarola is certified to grow organic pineapples under the U.S. Department of Agriculture seal. Castro says that managers of a fruit processing company exaggerated quantities they bought from him to make their U.S.-bound shipments appear organic, an accusation the processor denies.
Registration is now live for Prime Label's 30th Food Label Conference May 21-22, 2018.
Join us in Washington
DC for the premier conference on food labeling. Hear about the latest regulations and labeling trends as well as best practices in Nutrition Label Reform. Over 45 top government officials and industry experts will be presenting.
