March 2023

Dear Christina,

Welcome to March's Label Alert! In this month's headlines, FDA announces draft recommendations for industry on the naming of plant-based milk alternatives, industry responds to FDA's proposed Healthy rule, GMO food labeling goes unnoticed by consumers, and more ...

This month, we're offering two ways to save on the 2023 Food Label Conference: $100 off any Add-On Training, or $400 off registration for all four days!

Now, get caught up on the latest industry news from Label Alert.

FDA Provides Draft Labeling Recommendations for Plant-Based Milk Alternatives to Inform Consumers

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced draft recommendations for industry on the naming of plant-based foods that are marketed and sold as alternatives to milk. The draft guidance also recommends voluntary nutrient statements for the labeling of some plant-based milk alternatives.  

Read on...

The FDA Wants to Change What Counts As "Healthy" Food. Big Food Makers Say That's Unfair.

As the federal government moves to change rules for what foods can sport "healthy" labels, manufacturers are pushing back. Some of the biggest makers of cereals, frozen and packaged food have submitted dozens of claims to the Food and Drug Administration objecting to new rules that would exclude food with high amounts of added sugar and salt from being labeled as "healthy" on packaging.

Read on ...

GMO Food Labeling Has Been Required in the U.S. for a Year. Have Consumers Noticed?

Genetically modified foods have been on supermarket shelves since the 1990s, but they’ve only required a label for the last year. The USDA says implementation and compliance with the program have been “successful,” while experts suggest consumers aren’t noticing the labels.

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Examining the Meaning of Eco-Labels: Is it Time for Mandated Methodology?

A myriad of so-called eco-labels are being rolled out across various F&B products, but with no gold standard or strict rules governing precisely what the logos mean and what methodology is behind them, concerns are growing that they will confuse consumers and ultimately be counterproductive.

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FDA Publishes List of 2023 Priority Guidance Topics

FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) and Office of Food Policy and Response (OFPR) routinely publish a list of possible new topics for guidance documents or revisions to existing guidance documents that will be a priority during the next 12 months. FDA’s 2023 list includes allergens, dietary supplements, labeling, and more.

Read on....

FDA’s Update for New Human Foods Program Falls Short of Industry Expectations

Even as FDA kicks off a search for a deputy commissioner for its proposed Human Foods Program who it says will have a “clear line of authority over” all human food safety and nutrition programs, industry stakeholders worry the agency is choosing a “business as usual” approach to the reorganization that relies on a “matrix management” structure.

Read on....