Category: Issue 506
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Putative Class Alleges Whole Foods Products Contain GM Ingredients
Texas and California residents have filed a putative class action against Whole Foods Market Services, Inc. in a Texas federal court, alleging that the company’s private label lines include falsely labeled additive-laden and genetically modified (GM) foods, despite promises that its products contain “nothing artificial” and that it enforces “strict quality standards.” Gedalia v. Whole…
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Court Allows EJC Claim Amendment
In a putative class action against Amy’s Kitchen, a federal court in California has dismissed with leave to amend claims that the company has mislabeled its products by listing “evaporated cane juice” (ECJ) or “organic evaporated cane juice” as an ingredient. Figy v. Amy’s Kitchen, Inc., No. 13-3816 (N.D. Cal., order entered November 25, 2013).…
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Class Cert. Denied in Suit Against Chipotle
Finding that individual issues predominate over common ones in a putative class action alleging that Chipotle Mexican Grill sold conventionally raised meats despite advertising its use of “naturally raised” meats, a federal court in California has denied the plaintiff’s motion for class certification. Hernandez v. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc., No. 12-5543 (C.D. Cal., order entered…
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OEHHA Seeks Comments on Draft Templates for Tabulating Studies and Data
California EPA’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has issued a request for public comments on draft templates for tabulating epidemiology studies and data from animal studies for use by members of the agency’s Science Advisory Board Development and Reproductive Toxicant Identification Committee. Comments are requested by December 23, 2013. See OEHHA News Release, December…
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Canada Takes Steps to Approve GM Salmon
Environment Canada has published a significant new activity notice that will allow AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. to produce genetically modified (GM) salmon eggs. According to the company, the agency determined that GM salmon “is not harmful to the environment or human health when produced in contained facilities.” AquaBounty CEO Ron Stotish said, “This is a significant…
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FSA-Commissioned Study Examines Aspartame’s Alleged Health Effects
The U.K. Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) has released a December 2013 position paper on the purported health effects of aspartame, which is currently being reviewed by the European Food Safety Authority as part of its re-evaluation of all food additives. Commissioned by the U.K. Food Standards…
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EU Committee Proposes Tougher Penalties for Food Fraud
The European Parliament’s Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee has approved a draft report of legislation that calls for stronger policing of the food industry and tougher penalties for fraud. With an aim to strengthen procedures for detection and prevention of fraudulent practices in the European food chain, the legislation calls for, among other…
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FDA Changes References in Food Additive Regulations
In response to a petition filed by the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a final rule that amends select food-additive regulations referring to “food-grade specifications from prior editions of the Food Chemicals Codes (FCC) to incorporate by reference food-grade specifications from the FCC 7th Edition.” The rule took…