Category: Issue 454
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Jury Awards Colorado Man $7.2 Million for “Popcorn Lung”
A federal jury has reportedly awarded $7.2 million to a man who claimed that he developed bronchiolitis obliterans, a debilitating lung disease also known as popcorn lung, from consuming two to three bags of microwave popcorn every day for six years. Watson v. Dillon Cos., Inc., No. 08-91 (D. Colo., decided September 19, 2012). Details…
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Draft EFSA Guidance Targets Effects of Plant Protection Products on Bees
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has launched a public consultation on new “draft Guidance on the Risk Assessment of Plant Protection Products [PPPs] on Bees (including Apis mellifera, Bombus spp. and solitary bees).” Intended to help applicants and authorities evaluate PPPs “and their active substances under Regulation (EC) 1107/2009,” the draft guidance outlines a…
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NOP Final Rule Permits Synthetic Methionine Use in Organic Poultry
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program (NOP) has issued a final rule permitting the use of synthetic methionine in organic poultry production. Effective October 1, 2012, the final rule reduces the maximum levels of methionine per ton of feed as follows: (i) 2 pounds for laying and broiler chickens, and (ii) 3 pounds…
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FDA Seeks Industry Nominations for TSEAC
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently published a notice seeking “any industry organizations interested in participating in the selection of a nonvoting industry representative to the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies Advisory Committee [TSEAC].” Organizations that wish to participate in the selection of this nonvoting member should submit a letter stating their interest to FDA by…
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Public Citizen Calls for FDA to Change FOIA Response Policy
Consumer organization Public Citizen has filed a citizen petition with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) challenging its policy of instructing staff, when responding to requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), to not consider “minor deletions,” which can be up to 20 percent of the responsive documents, as a partial FOIA denial that…
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FTC to Accept Public Comments on Competition in Pet Medications Industry Through Nov. 1
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has reopened the comment period for its October 2, 2012, workshop on competition and consumer protection issues in the pet medications industry. The commission is “seeking the views of consumers, veterinarians, pharmacists, manufacturers, business representatives, economists, lawyers, academics, and other interested parties” submitted by November 1, 2012. FTC’s workshop agenda…