Category: Issue 543
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Restaurant Chain Settles Kobe Beef Putative Class Action
A California state court has approved the settlement of a putative class action alleging that Barney’s Worldwide Inc., owner of the Barney’s Beanery restaurant chain, falsely advertised its beef as Kobe beef when a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) ban on the import of beef from Kobe, Japan, was in effect. Nalbantian v. Barney’s Worldwide Inc.,…
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Federal Court Dismisses Olive Oil Owners from False-Labeling Class Action
A federal court in New York has granted the motion for summary judgment filed by the owners of Kangadis Food Inc., a company that declared bankruptcy when faced with class claims that it falsely labeled its products as pure olive oil when they actually contain an industrially processed substance. Ebin v. Kangadis Family Mgmt. LLC, No.…
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Court Denies Molasses Supplier Dismissal in Tainted Licorice Case
A California federal court has rejected in part and granted in part Total Sweeteners Inc.’s motion for summary judgment in a case alleging that the molasses supplier sold American Licorice Co. shipments tainted with lead that American Licorice then used to create Red Vines black licorice candy, resulting in a costly recall. Am. Licorice Co.…
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FAO/WHO Committee Issues Report on Veterinary Drug Residues in Food
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a technical report from a joint Food and Agriculture Organization/WHO Expert Committee tasked with evaluating the safety of certain veterinary drugs and recommending maximum residue limits (MRLs) in food. Among other things, the report addresses toxicological and residue data on various anthelminthic, antiparasitic, antifungal, and antibacterial agents and…
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FDA Seeks Comments on Expanding the Redbook
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will host a public meeting and is soliciting public input on whether to expand the products included in its guidance, titled “Toxicological Principles for the Safety Assessment of Food Ingredients”—also known as the “Redbook.” The agency is apparently considering this expansion “to include chemical safety assessments for all…
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EPA Flags BPA, Phthalates for Chemical Assessment
The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has updated its Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Work Plan for Chemical Assessments to include bisphenol A (BPA), seven phthalates and 15 other substances. Designed to help the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics identify chemicals with “the highest potential for exposure and hazard,” the TSCA Work Plan in 2012 flagged 83…
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FDA Denies Citizen Petitions Seeking Aspartame Ban
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has denied two citizen petitions asking the agency to prohibit the use of aspartame as a non-caloric sweetener. Dated July 16, 2002, the first petition argued that the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness Response Act authorizes FDA to recall dangerous chemicals without manufacturer approval. Citing studies conducted…