Category: Legislation, Regulations and Standards
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California Passes Cage-Free Eggs Mandate
California residents voted to pass a measure that will require by 2022 that all eggs sold in the state come from cage-free hens. The measure also sets minimums on cage sizes for animals raised for pork and veal production, with calves requiring 43 square feet and pigs 24 square feet. The Legislative Analyst’s Office reportedly…
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FDA Seizes Food Held in Insanitary Conditions
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced the seizure of human and animal food products held by J and L Grocery LLC in insanitary conditions. A complaint filed in Arkansas federal court alleges that September and October 2018 FDA inspections “revealed insanitary conditions including multiple live and dead rodents, rodent nesting, live racoons,…
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Ban on SSB Taxes Passes in Washington, Fails in Oregon
Washington voters have reportedly approved a ballot measure that will prevent the state legislature from implementing a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). The measure will not repeal Seattle’s tax but will prevent other local governments within the state from imposing new SSB taxes. A similar initiative in Oregon failed to pass; critics of the measure…
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FDA Releases Reports and Guidance on Nutritional Panels, Recalls, Serving Sizes, More
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released several reports and guidance documents on food-related issues, including draft guidance on reasonable serving sizes and a report on foodborne illnesses in restaurants. Food Labeling: Serving Sizes of Foods That Can Reasonably Be Consumed At One Eating Occasion, Reference Amounts Customarily Consumed, Serving Size-Related Issues, Dual-Column…
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FDA Announces Plan to “Advance Plant, Animal Biotechnology Innovation”
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb has issued a statement announcing the agency’s Plant and Animal Biotechnology Innovation Action Plan. Gottlieb describes the plan as identifying priorities in three areas: (i) “advancing human and animal health by promoting product innovation and applying modern, efficient and risk-based regulatory pathways;” (ii) “strengthening public outreach…
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EU, U.K. Approve Limits on Single-Use Plastics
The European Parliament has approved a ban on several types of single-use plastics that is reportedly expected to take effect by 2021. The ban will apply to plastic cutlery, plates, straws and drink stirrers, and the measure also calls for a reduction in plastic cups and other single-use plastic containers used for food and beverages.…
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FDA Accepting Data Submissions on Sesame Allergies
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has requested comments on “the prevalence and severity of sesame allergies in the United States and the prevalence of sesame-containing foods sold in the United States that are not required to disclose sesame as an ingredient.” The announcement cites a 2014 petition submitted by the Center for Science…
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FDA Issues Draft Guidances on Produce
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced the availability of two draft guidance documents involving standards for produce. One draft guidance “provides a broad range of recommendations on how to meet the requirements” for growing produce and “outlines how to determine whether produce or farms may be eligible for exemptions.” The second guidance…