Welcome to September's Label Alert! In this month's headlines, a new Food Label Modernization Act is introduced in Congress, a vegan butter manufacturer wins a landmark legal battle, false advertising lawsuits are on the rise in food and beverage, and more ...
This month, we are excited to offer Label Alert subscribers a 10% discount on four upcoming virtual Food Label Seminars covering a range of timely food labeling topics.
Enjoy the coming of Autumn, and get the latest news with Label Alert!
Food Label Modernization Act of 2021 Introduced in House and Senate
On August 4, 2021, Democratic [senators and representatives] introduced the Food Labeling Modernization Act in both houses of Congress.... The legislation would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a single, standard front-of-package nutrition labeling system in a timely manner for all food products required to bear nutrition labeling.
Miyoko’s Kitchen, a leading vegan cheese and butter brand, is celebrating victory over a landmark legal battle. Last year, it was served a temporary injunction by the California Department of Food and Agriculture. It came as the company was using labels including ‘cruelty-free’ for its vegan butter products. Following this, the company filed a first amendment lawsuit against the CDA – and won.
False Advertising Lawsuits are Ramping Up in Food and Beverage
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 saw more false advertising food and beverage cases filed than any year prior, continuing a trend in this area. [In this article] we assess the state of some current cases and trends we anticipate seeing through the end of the year and beyond.
FSIS Sets Requirements for Wearing Masks around Inspectors
To protect [FSIS] inspectors responsible for ensuring the safety of meat and poultry, FSIS issued a notice stating that meat and poultry establishments, egg products plants and all other facilities where FSIS provides inspection services, such as voluntary inspection service, must require their employees or contractors — regardless of vaccination status — to wear masks when inspection program personnel are present, if the establishment is located in a county with “substantial” or “high” community transmission of COVID-19.
AMS Proposes Amendments to National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances
USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) proposed amendments to the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List) section of the USDA's organic regulations to implement recommendations submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture by the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). This rule proposes the removal from the National List of several substances allowed for various uses in organic crop production, livestock production, and manufacture of processed products. Comments are due by October 25, 2021.
USDA Predicts Higher Food Prices on Top of Existing Hikes – Calling into Question Consumer Reactions
Food prices across categories are predicted to rise low- to mid-single digits this year and again next year – adding on to already higher prices in 2020 fueled in part by the pandemic and raising questions about how consumers will react in the long term, according to the US Department of Agriculture and an industry analyst.
