Category: Issue 278
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Melamine-Tainted Pet Food MDL Litigation Settles
A federal court in New Jersey has reportedly approved a $24 million settlement that resolves claims for contaminated pet food filed in 80 putative class actions against more than 60 companies. In re Pet Food Prods. Liab. Litig., MDL No. 1850 (D.N.J., settlement approved October 14, 2008). The claims, which had been consolidated for pretrial proceedings…
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Organic Farm Wins Pesticide-Contamination Lawsuit
A California jury has reportedly awarded an organic farm in Santa Cruz $1 million for the contamination of its edible herbs by pesticides applied on neighboring farms. Jacobs Farm/Del Cabo v. W. Farm Serv., Inc., No. ___ (Cal. Dist. Ct., Santa Cruz Cty., September 29, 2008). Pesticide drift from aerial spraying allegedly made it impossible for…
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U.S. Supreme Court Asks for Government’s View of Preemption in Salmon Labeling Case
The U.S. Supreme Court has reportedly asked the solicitor general to file a brief discussing the federal preemption issues in case filed against retailers for failing to inform California consumers that the farm-raised salmon they sold was artificially colored. Albertson’s, Inc. v. Kanter, No. 07-1327 (U.S.). FDA regulations allow salmon farmers to augment the normally grayish…
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Japanese Health Officials Investigate Pesticide-Tainted Beans from China
Japanese health officials have reportedly warned consumers that particular lots of frozen green beans imported from China are tainted with the organophosphate insecticide dichlorvos, resulting in the illness of at least three people. Residents of Kashiwa in the Chiba Prefecture experienced mouth numbness, vomiting and other symptoms after eating adulterated beans manufactured by Shandong-based Yantai Beihai…
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UK Food Regulators Consider Reduction of BSE Testing for Cattle
The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) recently convened a board meeting to discuss reducing the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) testing requirement for cattle. The Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC) “recognized an increase in the age at which cattle intended for human consumption are BSE tested would represent a ‘minimal to negligible increase in the risk…
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Appellate Body Supports U.S. Sanctions over EU Beef Ban; EU Ban Amendments Upheld
The WTO has reportedly issued a ruling supporting the United States in its decision to impose duties on European imports in response to a ban on beef from animals treated with growth hormones. According to the U.S. trade representative, “The Appellate Body’s report confirms that WTO members that are subject to additional duties for failing…
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USDA Announces Meeting of 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee
USDA has announced the first meeting of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee to formulate an agenda for its review of the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Slated for October 30, 2008, the meeting also includes presentations on the history of the Dietary Guidelines published every five years by USDA and the Department of Health…
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USDA Seeks Comments on Animal Raising Claims in the Labeling of Meat, Poultry
USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is seeking comments on policies that regulate whether processors can use animal raising claims in labeling for meat and poultry products. “[R]ecent experience with labeling claims related to the raising of poultry have led FSIS to initiate a review of its evaluation and approval process for labels of…