Food & Beverage Litigation & Regulatory Update

Tag: nanotechnology

  • Antimicrobial Edible Films Inhibit Pathogens in Meat

    Researchers at Penn State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences have purportedly found that edible films made from pullulan—a transparent polymer produced by the fungus Aureobasidium pulluns, silver nanoparticles, zinc oxide, and oregano and rosemary essential oils—can inhibit foodborne pathogens on meat products. Mohamed K. Morsy, et al., “Incorporation of Essential Oils and Nanoparticles in Pullulan…

  • EPA Orders Halt to Sales of Food Storage Products

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a stop sale, use or removal order against New Jersey-based Pathway Investment Corp. concerning company food storage products containing nano silver. According to the agency, these products—Kinetic Go Green Premium food storage containers, Kinetic Smartwist Series containers, TRITAN food storage, and StackSmart Storage—are marketed “as containing nano…

  • European Parliament Rejects Nano Labeling Regulations

    The European Parliament has reportedly rejected draft rules mandating the labeling of engineered nanomaterials used in food. According to a March 13, 2014, press release, MEPs voted to scrap the proposed measure over concerns that the European Commission’s definition of nanomaterial “would exempt nano-sized food additives already on the market.” In particular, MEPs noted that…

  • EC Seeks Data on Nanomaterials in Agri-Food-Feed

    The European Commission-Joint Research Centre and Institute of Food Safety of the University of Wageningen in The Netherlands, at the request of the European Food Safety Authority, have issued a two-part survey regarding nanomaterials in agri-food-feed applications that aims to collect information about (i) the current and potential future use of nanomaterials or nanotechnology in…

  • EC Amends Nano Elements of Food Information and Labeling Rule

    The European Commission (EC) has issued a draft rule amending Regulation 1169/2011—a food information and labeling rule adopted in 2011—with regard to use of the term “nano” to describe food additives. The amended rule requires adherence to the definition of “engineered nanomaterial” provided in Recommendation 2011/696/EU, because this rule “reflects the technical and scientific progress to…

  • EC Seeks Input on REACH Nanomaterial Annexes

    The European Commission (EC) has announced a public consultation on the Nanomaterial Annexes to the regulations governing the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemical (REACH) substances. As recommended in the General Review of REACH published in February 2013, the consultation will contribute to the Commission’s “impact assessment of relevant regulatory options, in particular possible…

  • OECD Issues Survey Summary on Regulatory Oversight of Nanotechnology in Foods

    The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has released a summary of survey results pertaining to the regulatory framework in 12 countries that provide oversight of nanotechnology in food and medical products. Conducted in 2011-2012, the survey addressed (i) “the regulatory frameworks being used to provide oversight for the use of nanotechnology in the relevant…

  • EC-Funded Research Suggests Approach to Insuring Nanomaterial Production Risk

    In a Nature Nanotechnology commentary titled “The insurability of nanomaterial product risk,” business and scientific researchers funded by the European Commission (EC) propose a framework for the insurance industry to assess risks for purposes of issuing policies that will ensure the “commercial viability and long-term sustainability” of the nanotechnology industry. Noting that Lloyd’s of London…