Category: U.S. Government and Regulatory Agencies
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Advocacy Group Sues To Compel USDA To Proceed With GMO Disclosure Act
The Center for Food Safety has filed a lawsuit seeking to compel the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to proceed with the studies and public comment required to implement the 2016 Federal Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standards Act. Ctr. for Food Safety v. Perdue, No. 17-4967 (N.D. Cal., filed August 25, 2017). Passed by Congress in…
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Domestic Olive Producers Hurt by Spanish Imports, USITC Finds
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has found a “reasonable indication” that domestic olive production has been injured by imports of Spanish olives sold at less than fair market value. In June 2017, two California olive producers filed a petition alleging that the imported olives, which are subsidized by the Spanish government, have damaged domestic…
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Agencies Schedule Public Meetings on Codex Positions
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration and the Agricultural Marketing Service will sponsor three meetings in September and October 2017 to provide information and receive comments on U.S. positions to be discussed at upcoming Codex Alimentarius Commission meetings. On September 1, the agencies will discuss U.S. positions for the Committee on Fresh…
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Ad Board Recommends Against Gimmick-Exposing Campaign
The National Advertising Division (NAD) has recommended that Sanderson Farms change a campaign claiming that its competitors are tricking consumers with “raised without antibiotics” labels on poultry products. NAD found that the information in Sanderson’s ads was accurate, including its claim that “none of the chicken you buy in the grocery store has antibiotics in…
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Advocacy Groups Battle Over Citizen Petition to Define “Milk”
In the absence of action by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), consumer-advocacy and dairy trade groups are disputing whether plant-based beverages, such as those made from soy or almonds, can be called “milk.” The Good Food Institute (GFI) sent a July 31, 2017, letter to FDA requesting action on a 1997 citizen petition…
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Livestock Associations Sue USDA for COOL Rule Repeal
Two livestock trade associations have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) alleging the agency’s 2016 repeal of marking and labeling regulations violates the Meat Inspection Act and the Tariff Act. Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of Am. v. U.S. Dept of Agric., No. 17-0223 (E.D. Wash., filed June 19, 2017).…
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NAD Says Aldi Should Change Savings Claims Ads
The National Advertising Division (NAD) has recommended that Aldi, Inc. discontinue advertising based on a “market basket” comparison that claims consumers could save more than 50 percent by buying Aldi brands instead of name-brand products at other grocery chains. Texas-based HEB Grocery Co. first challenged print ads published in Houston then later added a challenge…
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Consumer Group Files FOIA Lawsuit for List of NPIS Participants
Food & Water Watch, a consumer advocacy group, has filed suit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food Safety and Inspection Service over the agencies’ denial of the group’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests asking for the names of companies that opted to participate in the New Poultry Inspection System (NPIS).…