Category: Issue 600
-
New Study Reevaluates Effect of Fat Intake on Cholesterol and Heart Disease Risk
A study reevaluating “the traditional diet-heart hypothesis” concludes that replacing dietary saturated fat with vegetable oils lowers serum cholesterol but does not reduce the risk of death from coronary heart disease or other causes. Christopher Ramsden, et al., “Re-evaluation of the traditional diet-heart hypothesis: analysis of recovered data from Minnesota Coronary Experiment (1968-73),” BMJ, April…
-
Biotech Firm Sues Beverage Cos. Alleging Probiotic Patent Infringement
Ganeden Biotech Inc. has filed a lawsuit against American Brewing Co., Inc. and its 2015 acquisition, B&R Liquid Adventure, alleging the companies infringe its patents on a particular strain of probiotic bacteria through the marketing and sale of their búcha® beverage. Ganeden Biotech, Inc. v. Am. Brewing Co., Inc., No. 16-0876 (N.D. Ohio, filed April 13,…
-
Presence of Citric Acid at Heart of Putative Class Action Challenging Vivaloe’s “Natural” and Preservative-Free Claims
A consumer has filed a putative class action alleging Outernational Brands, Inc. mislabels its Vivaloe aloe-vera beverages as “All Natural” and preservative-free even though the products contain citric acid. Chen v. Outernational Brands, Inc., No. 16-1634 (E.D.N.Y., filed April 4, 2016). “The term ‘All Natural’ only applies to those products that contain no non-natural or…
-
Melitta Mislabels Artificial Flavors, Proposed Class Action Contends
A putative class action against Melitta USA Inc. alleges the company’s coffee product packaging fails to distinguish between “natural and/or artificial flavor” per federal regulations. Decerbo v. Melitta USA Inc., No. 16-0850 (M.D. Fla., filed April 11, 2016). The plaintiff argues that under U.S. Food and Drug Administration rules, food manufacturers must “accurately identify or…
-
Origin Lawsuit Against Red Stripe® Beer Dismissed
A California federal court has dismissed a lawsuit alleging that Diageo PLC misrepresents Red Stripe® beer as brewed in Jamaica, finding “no reasonable consumer would be misled into thinking that Red Stripe is made in Jamaica with Jamaican ingredients based on the wording of the packaging and labeling.” Dumas v. Diageo PLC, No. 15-1681 (S.D.…
-
Salt Institute Disputes Sodium Recommendations in Federal Dietary Guidelines
The Salt Institute has penned an April 11, 2016, letter asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to withdraw the sodium provisions included in the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which advise individuals to consume less than 2,300 milligrams (mg) per day of sodium. According to the…
-
FDA Amends Food Additive Regulations to Provide for Safe Use of Folic Acid in Corn Masa Flour
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved folic acid fortification of corn masa flour in response to a 2012 petition from the March of Dimes Foundation, National Council of La Raza and other groups. FDA’s action allows manufacturers to voluntarily add up to 0.7 milligrams of folic acid per pound of corn masa…
-
USDA Drafts New Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has proposed amendments to organic livestock and poultry production requirements to clarify “how producers and handlers must treat their livestock and poultry to ensure their health and well-being throughout life.” Based on recommendations from the National Organic Standards Board, the draft rules also specify “which…