Food & Beverage Litigation & Regulatory Update

Tag: nutrition

  • USDA Proposes Major Overhaul for School Meals

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a 78-page proposed rule revising school breakfast and lunch nutrition requirements as a way to combat childhood obesity. Noting that implementation would improve dietary habits and protect children’s health, the rule is part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 recently signed into law. Based on…

  • Lisa Miller, “Divided We Eat,” Newsweek, November 22, 2010

    “Essentially, we have a system where wealthy farmers feed the poor crap and poor farmers feed the wealthy high-quality food,” food activist Michael Pollan told Newsweek society editor Lisa Miller in this article examining the gap in the availability of nutritious, fresh and organic foods between rich and lower-income Americans. Noting that “in hard times,…

  • Obama Expected to Sign Child Nutrition Bill into Law

    The U.S. House of Representatives has approved the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (S. 3307), which first lady Michelle Obama called “a groundbreaking piece of bipartisan legislation that will significantly improve the quality of meals that children receive at school and will play an integral role in our efforts to combat childhood obesity.” President…

  • Business Leaders Take Aim at Food and Beverage Policies Posing Impediment to Growth

    In response to an Office of Management and Budget (OMB) request, the Business Roundtable and The Business Council have prepared a report with a list of laws and regulations that the nation’s business leaders reportedly believe “have a dampening effect on economic growth and job creation.” Among the business groups’ concerns are proposals that would affect…

  • MEPs Reject Traffic Light System in Favor of Uniform Labeling Laws

    Members of European Parliament (MEPs) have apparently voted in favor of draft legislation that would require listing energy, fat, saturated fat, sugar, and salt content on the front of food packages. Doing so, they rejected a traffic light system that sought to further emphasize the levels of salt, sugar and fat in processed foods, and…

  • FDA Seeks Input on Front-of-Pack Labeling

    The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has established a docket to obtain comments and other data related to point-of-purchase nutrition information, including front-of-pack (FOP) labeling and shelf tags. According to an April 29, 2010, press release, FDA wants to learn more about (i) “the extent to which consumers notice, use and understand nutrition symbols” on…

  • Nestle Criticizes Front-of-Package Nutrition Labeling at IOM Meeting

    The Institute of Medicine (IOM) held an open session on April 9, 2010, to gather information on front-of-package (FOP) nutrition rating systems and symbols. Speakers included representatives from (i) the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.K. Food Standards Agency, (ii) the American Heart Association, (iii) ConAgra Foods, the General Mills Bell Institute of…

  • IOM Announces Meeting on Food Labeling, Issues Report on Obesity Prevention Workshop

    The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has announced an April 9, 2010, open workshop to continue its review of front-of-package (FOP) nutrition rating systems and symbols. As tasked by the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, IOM established a committee to evaluate and report on “the use of symbols, logos, and…