Category: FDA
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FDA to Improve Internal Processes for Evaluating Chemical Risks in Food
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reportedly taking measures to bolster intra-agency program processes based on a comprehensive review of the scientific capacity and management of the Chemical Safety Program across the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) and Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM). FDA plans to address improvements in the principal…
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Youth Sports Legislation Calls for Energy Drink Guidelines
Recent legislation (S.B. 2718) introduced by U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) has called for energy drink guidelines as part of a wider initiative to ensure children’s safety in athletics. According to a September 8, 2014, press release, the Supporting Athletes, Families and Educators to Protect the Lives of Athletic…
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FDA Presents 4-MEI Exposure Assessment Data at ACS Annual Meeting
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) researchers recently presented dietary exposure assessments for 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI) at the 248th American Chemical Society (ACS) National Meeting held August 10-14, 2014, in San Francisco. Contributing to FDA’s review of available toxicological data for 4-MEI found in Class III and IV Caramel colors produced using ammonium compounds, the scientists analyzed…
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Washington Post Targets Lack of Food Additive Scrutiny
Discussing the expedited approval process for food additives that took effect 17 years ago, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Deputy Commissioner for Food Michael Taylor recently told Washington Post reporter Kimberly Kindy that the agency does not have “the information to vouch for the safety of many of these chemicals.” According to the August…
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Consumer Reports Challenges FDA’s Fish Intake Recommendations
In its October 2014 issue, Consumer Reports will publish an analysis of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) data that supported the agency’s recommendations for fish intake by pregnant women and children, released jointly as draft guidance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in June 2014. The magazine compiled a list of low-mercury—including…
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U.S. PIRG White Paper Calls for Antibiotics Reform
The U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) Education Fund has published a white paper titled “Ending the Overuse of Antibiotics in Livestock Production: The Case for Reform.” Contending that the use of antibiotics in healthy animals to accelerate their growth or “prevent disease caused by unhealthy and unsanitary conditions” has accelerated the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria,…
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USDA Schedules Codex Meetings on Import/Export Inspection and Certification; Food Hygiene
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Food Safety and Inspection Service is convening a September 25, 2014, public meeting in Washington, D.C., to receive public comments about draft positions to be discussed at the 21st Session of the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems of the Codex Alimentarius Commission in…
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FDA Issues Lupin Allergy Warning
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued a consumer update warning that the lupin (or lupine) legume could cause allergic reactions in susceptible individuals, especially those with existing peanut allergies. According to FDA, the use of lupin-derived ingredients has increased in recent years because they are used in gluten-free products as a substitute…