Category: Issue 654
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Senators Urge USDA to Implement GMO Labeling
Several Democratic senators, with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), have sent a letter to the head of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) urging Secretary Sonny Perdue to prioritize “consumer-friendly solutions” as the Agricultural Marketing Service undertakes a rulemaking process on the labeling of food made with genetically modified organisms (GMOs). “All Americans have the right…
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USDA Announces Delay for Organic Livestock Rule
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has delayed the effective date of the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices final rule until May 14, 2018. The rule’s original effective date was set for January 19, 2017. According to the announcement, “significant policy and legal issues addressed within the final rule warranted further review by USDA.” In September…
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FDA Allows Use of Formic Acid, Ammonium Formate in Animal Feed
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced an amendment to food additive regulations to provide for the use of formic acid and ammonium formate in animal feed and drinking water. Taking effect November 13, 2017, the amendment limits formic acid and salts to 1.2 percent in complete feeds. FDA will accept comments or…
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New York Times Editorial Criticizes Fear of Food Ingredients
Aaron Carroll, a professor at the Indiana University School of Medicine, argues in a New York Times editorial that “panic-du-jour” about unhealthy foods encourages people to unnecessarily live “in terror or struggling to avoid certain foods altogether.” Carroll asserts that the repeated condemnation of various food ingredients—including fat, cholesterol, meat, monosodium glutamate, genetically modified organisms and gluten—“shows…
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“Granules” In Chicken Salad Caused Illness, Lawsuit Alleges
A consumer has filed a lawsuit alleging that she became ill after eating a chicken salad containing “hard, gray-colored granules” with a “foul odor and taste” at a location of Bojangles Famous Chicken ‘n Biscuits. Green v. Bojangles Restaurants, Inc., No. 17-2936 (D.S.C., removed to federal court October 30, 2017). The plaintiff asserts that she ordered…
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Wine Growers Disagree on Geographical Indicators in Trade Negotiations
Amid trade negotiations among the European Union, Japan and Mexico, American manufacturers and winemakers have urged the United States to exert influence on the issue of geographical indicators. In October 2017, a group of food and beverage producers—including the California Wine Institute—asked the Trump administration to express concerns to Mexico and Japan about limiting the use…
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Coconut Water Maker Faces “Cold-Pressed” Putative Class Action
A consumer has filed a putative class action alleging Pure Brazilian’s “cold-pressed” coconut water undergoes high-pressure processing that “reduces the biological, enzymatic and bacterial activity” of the water, allegedly amounting to false advertising and fraud. Khallili v. Pure Brazilian LLC, No. 17-6425 (E.D.N.Y., filed November 5, 2017). The complaint asserts that high-pressure processing not only…