Category: Issue 588
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FDA Not Negligent in Issuing Tomato Recall, Court Holds
A South Carolina federal court has ruled that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was not negligent in issuing a tomato recall during a 2008 outbreak of Salmonella, dismissing a tomato farm’s claim of $15 million in damages. Seaside Farm Inc. v. U.S., No. 11-1199 (D.S.C., order entered December 16, 2015). The farm had…
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Philippine High Court Bans GMO Imports
The Philippine Supreme Court has reportedly invalidated a 2002 governmental regulation allowing the import of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) after Greenpeace and a farmer’s group challenged the field testing of a GMO eggplant (talong). The ruling affirms a lower court’s 2013 decision finding “no full scientific certainty yet as to the effects of Bt talong…
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British Agency to Hold Workshop on Novel Foods and Processes
The Food Standards Agency’s independent Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP) will host a February 4, 2016, workshop in London. Breakout sessions will target (i) the food-medicine continuum; (ii) alternative proteins, e.g., insects and in vitro meat production; and (iii) engineered nanomaterials. Registrations are requested by January 14, 2016. See ACNFP News Release,…
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Ad Board Allows String Cheese Maker to Continue Claims
The National Advertising Division (NAD), an arm of the advertising industry’s self-regulation system, has concluded Saputo Cheese, USA, Inc. can support its claims that its string cheese is “natural” and “low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese” despite challenger Lactalis American Group’s argument that Saputo’s products contain artificial phosphate and fillers. Lactalis argued Saputo’s products do not comply…
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App Developers Settle FTC Charges of Children’s Privacy Violations
Two app developers have agreed to pay a combined $360,000 to settle Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charges that they allegedly violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by producing and selling games allowing third-party advertisers to collect personal information from children. The games, which include My Cake Shop, My Pizza Shop, Ice Cream Jump…
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FDA Report Indicates Rising Use of Antibiotics in Food-Producing Animals
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published its annual report of sales and distribution data for antimicrobial drugs used in food-producing animals. The report’s analysis of 2014 statistics and observed trends of rising antibiotic use immediately drew the ire of consumer advocacy coalition Keep Antibiotics Working (KAW). “The data released today shows us…
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Hampton Creek Can Keep “Just Mayo” Name, FDA Announces
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reportedly reached a deal with Hampton Creek, maker of eggless spread Just Mayo®, allowing the company to keep the name of its product but requiring changes to its packaging. Just Mayo® labels will now feature larger words touting its features, including “egg-free” and “spread and dressing,” and…
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Shook Attorneys Obtain Dismissal for Multivitamin Manufacturer
A Missouri federal court has granted a motion to dismiss a lawsuit against Source Naturals, Inc., maker of Life Force® multivitamins, alleging the company misrepresented the amount of vitamins and nutrients in the product on the label. Dougherty v. Source Naturals, Inc., No. 15-0574 (E.D. Mo., order entered December 8, 2015). The plaintiff argued her…