Tag: GMO
-
FDA Budget Includes GMO Information Campaign
A budget plan passed to fund the U.S. government until September 2017 reportedly includes $3 million to pay for an information campaign about genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food. As a partnership between the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Agriculture, the campaign will apparently seek to counter “misinformation about agricultural…
-
Putative Class Action Alleges GMO Foods Are Not “Natural”
A Florida plaintiff has filed a putative class action against the maker of Tabatchnick soups, alleging its products cannot be called “natural” because they contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Ramsaran v. Tabatchnick Fine Foods, Inc., No. 1760794 (S.D. Fla., filed April 24, 2017). The complaint asserts that 19 Tabatchnick soups labeled or advertised as “all…
-
Comment Periods Extended for Genome Editing in Plants and Animals
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced an extension to its comment periods for information on the use of genome editing techniques in animals and in plant varieties used for human or animal food. Comments on FDA’s draft guidance, “Regulation of Intentionally Altered Genomic DNA in Animals,” and on the use of genome…
-
EU Countries Vote Against Allowing GM Maize
A majority of EU countries reportedly voted against allowing the cultivation of two genetically modified (GM) types of maize as well as the extension of approved cultivation areas for another GM maize already grown in Spain. Neither vote was decisive under EU rules, which require 65 percent of countries’ votes to decide, so the determination…
-
Sonoma County Passes Ban on GMO Crops
Voters in Sonoma County, Calif., have passed by a significant margin— 55.9 to 44.9 percent— a ballot initiative that prohibits cultivation of genetically modified crops. Santa Cruz, Humboldt, Trinity, Marin and Mendocino counties have already passed similar measures. The Center for Food Safety reportedly helped draft Measure M, providing legal and scientific counsel over the…
-
Cornucopia Institute Asks USDA to Investigate Hydroponic Produce Organic Certification
The Cornucopia Institute has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Agriculture “requesting an investigation into the organic certification of hydroponic operations in the U.S. that appear to conflict with the statutory language of the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) of 1990 and current federal regulations governing organic food production.” The organization argues that…
-
Putative Class Action Targets Hormel’s “100% Natural,” “No Preservatives” Meat
A consumer has filed a proposed class action against Hormel Foods Corp. alleging the company misrepresents its meat products as natural and free of preservatives despite containing synthetic or genetically modified ingredients, including cultured celery powder, baking powder and maltodextrin. Phelps v. Hormel Foods Corp., No. 16-62411 (S.D. Fla., Ft. Lauderdale Div., filed October 11,…
-
Kind Litigation on Hold as FDA Decides “Natural” Definition
A New York federal court has stayed a proposed class action alleging Kind LLC misleads consumers by describing its products as “all natural” and free of genetically modified organisms. In re Kind, No. 15-2645 (S.D.N.Y., order entered September 15, 2016). The court noted that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requested comments on the…