Category: Issue 300
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Chocolate Price-Fixing Case Certified for Appeal to Federal Appeals Court
A federal court in Pennsylvania has certified for immediate appeal its denial of the defendants’ motion to dismiss in multidistrict litigation (MDL) alleging price-fixing by chocolate manufacturers. In re Chocolate Confectionary Antitrust Litig., MDL No. 1935 (M.D. Pa., April 8, 2009). The defendants in these 87 consolidated lawsuits reportedly supply 75 percent of the chocolate…
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Health Canada Expected to Declare BPA Hazardous to Human Health
According to a news source, Health Canada is about to become the first country to formally place bisphenol A (BPA) on its toxic substances list and prohibit its use in baby bottles. An official announcement in the Canada Gazette is reportedly imminent, although nothing on the government agency’s website confirms this report. Health Minister Tony…
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Groups to Focus on Food Safety Implications of Nanotechnology
The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) has announced a joint expert meeting titled Application of Nanotechnologies in the Food and Agriculture Sectors: Potential Food Safety Implications, to be held June 1-5, 2009, in Rome, Italy. The gathering will reportedly address the potential food safety risks that may arise from…
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FTC Considers Holding Paid Web Bloggers Liable for False Brand Claims
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has apparently proposed amending its advertising guidelines to hold companies and paid word-of-mouth marketers, including bloggers and those on social networking sites, liable for making false statements to promote products. According to an FTC spokesperson, the proposal would bring the commission up to speed with evolving marketing practices. “The commission…
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Federal Appeals Court Upholds Dairy’s Right to Challenge Marketing Law Amendments
The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals has determined that the owners of a dairy are not required to first exhaust administrative remedies before bringing a constitutional challenge to Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act amendments. Hettinga v. U.S., No. 07-5403 (D.C. Cir., decided April 3, 2009). The amendments codified certain rule changes that the Secretary of Agriculture…
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USDA Announces Meeting on Codex Agenda Targeting Veterinary Drug Residues
The Office of the Acting Deputy Undersecretary for Food Safety, U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Food and Drug Administration have announced a public meeting on April 29, 2009, to discuss draft U.S. positions for the 18th Session of the Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods (CCRVDF) slated for May 11-15, 2009,…
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Prop. 65 Public Comment Period Extended for Chemical Found in Cooked Wines and Sauces
California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has extended the deadline for public comment on its notice of intent to list 4- methylimidazole (4-MEI) as a chemical known to the state to cause cancer under Proposition 65 (Prop. 65). The new deadline is May 29, 2009. According to a news source, the proposed intent…
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USDA, HHS Announce Third Meeting Regarding Updated Dietary Guidelines
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have announced the third meeting of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee charged with revising the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005. Slated for April 29 and 30, 2009, the online meeting will include (i) presentations on topics such as “eating environment,…