Category: Issue 540
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Consumer Reports Tests “Natural” Foods for GE Corn and Soy
The Consumer Reports (CR) Food Safety and Sustainability Center has reportedly tested more than 80 processed foods for genetically engineered (GE) corn or soy, concluding that products labeled “natural” contained GE ingredients in levels comparable to those of their conventional counterparts. After analyzing breakfast cereals, bars, corn chips and tortillas, baking mixes and flour, meat…
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Settlement Approved in Ghirardelli White Chocolate Case
A California federal court has preliminarily approved a settlement in a case alleging that Ghirardelli failed to include white chocolate, cocoa or cocoa butter in its white chocolate chips. Miller v. Ghirardelli Chocolate Co., No. 12-4936 (U.S. Dist. Ct., N.D. Cal., San Francisco Div., order entered October 2, 2014). Additional details about the settlement appear…
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PCA Executives Seek New Trial
Stewart Parnell, former CEO of Peanut Corp. of America (PCA), and his brother Michael Parnell, former vice president of sales, have filed a joint motion for a new trial following their recent convictions on charges stemming from a Salmonella outbreak traced to their peanut processing facilities. United States v. Parnell, 13-12 (M.D. Ga., motion filed October 7).…
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Consumer Interest Groups Denied Intervention in Lawsuit Challenging Vermont GMO-Labeling Law
A federal court has denied Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG) and the Center for Food Safety’s (CFS’s) motion to intervene in a lawsuit challenging Vermont’s statute requiring food manufacturers to label their products if they contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Grocery Mfrs. Ass’n v. Sorrell, No. 14-0117 (U.S. Dist. Ct., D. Vt., order entered…
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FDA Schedules Meeting of the National Center for Toxicological Research’s Science Advisory Board
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has scheduled a meeting of the Science Advisory Board (SAB) to the National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR) for November 6-7, 2014, at NCTR’s research campus in Jefferson, Arkansas. Public sessions of the two-day meeting will include the NCTR director’s update on scientific initiatives; a report from the…
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Senate Coalition Urges Appropriations Committee to Thwart Attempts to Revise COOL
A bipartisan group of 32 federal lawmakers led by U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) penned an October 6, 2014, letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee asking its leaders to “reject efforts to weaken or suspend Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) through any continuing resolution or omnibus appropriations bill” pending a World…