Category: Issue 369
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EFSA Issues Additional Opinions on “Functional Food” Health Claims
In its ongoing review of food product health claims, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has adopted 75 new opinions addressing 808 claims. EFSA’s independent scientists opined that claimed functional-food effects, such as improves the “immune system” or “immune function,” “supports immune defences,” “reduces inflammation,” or “decreases potentially pathogenic gastro-intestinal microorganisms,” were either insufficiently defined…
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EC Proposes Limited Ban on Food from Cloned Livestock
The European Commission has reportedly proposed a five-year ban on animal cloning for food production in the European Union (EU), but stopped short of prohibiting meat and milk from clone offspring. According to an October 19, 2010, Europa press release, the plan would also suspend “the use of cloned farm animals and the marketing of…
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NOP Issues Draft Guidance for Certifying Agents and Certified Operations
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service has announced the availability of five draft guidance documents for National Organic Program (NOP) certifying agents and certified operations. The documents cover the following topics: (i) Compost and Vermicompost in Organic Crop Production (NOP 5021); (ii) Wild Crop Harvesting (NOP 5022); (iii) Outdoor Access for Organic Poultry…
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Bitter Battle over Organic Hops Comes to a Head
The American Organic Hop Grower Association (AOHGA) has reportedly persuaded a National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) subcommittee to reverse a recommendation that aimed to keep hops on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances, which governs the use of synthetic and non-synthetic materials in organic production and handling. In advance of an October 25-28,…
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FSIS Issues In-Plant Video Monitoring Draft Guidelines
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued draft guidelines for video monitoring at federally inspected meat and poultry plants. Although the guidelines do not require in-plant video monitoring, such practices can be used to help strengthen food safety and humane animal-handling practices, and to monitor product inventory and…
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USDA Sets Standards for Olive Oil
According to an agricultural and food law blog, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has published the U.S. Standards for Grades of Olive Oil and Olive-Pomace Oil, effective October 25, 2010. They supersede standards that were in effect since 1948. According to the agency, the standards “are designed to facilitate orderly marketing by providing a convenient…