Connecticut State Senate passes GMO labeling legislation
23-May-2013 - The legislative pressure on mandatory GMO labeling continues to build, at least on the state front, as the Connecticut State Senate voted 35-1 in favor of SB 802, a bill that would require labeling of products with genetically modified ingredients.
Warning letter gives look at how FDA views supplement-beverage divide
22-May-2013 - Among recent warning letters sent by the US Food and Drug Administration to supplement manufacturers one stood out from the rest as it bears upon how the agency view the differentiation of beverages and supplements, according to Justin Prochnow, an attorney who represents supplement and food companies.
EFSA sets standard for study rigor, consultant says
22-May-2013 - Differing regulatory environments can play havoc with a company's research plans, say consultant Joerg Gruenwald, PhD. But recent, sometimes bitter, experience with the European Food Safety Authority has shed some light on how to negotiate this tangle, he said.
Former FDA official on GMO labeling: ‘Science doesn’t always win’
17-May-2013 - Whether the food industry likes it or not, when it comes to GMO labeling, the “train appears to have left the station”, according to former FDA associate commissioner of foods Dr David Acheson.
Global healthcare systems are failing; nutrition policy needs to change now, says leading academic
16-May-2013 - Nations and populations are in peril of being swamped by the cost of their healthcare systems unless a severe nutrition policy rethink can occur, says a leading academic.
More FDA warning letters for website claims and cGMP violations
16-May-2013 - The US Food and Drug Administration has issued warning letters to two dietary supplement companies, as the agency maintains its vigilance of website claims and cGMP compliance.
Special focus: Recent FDA warning letters offer important lessons for companies
15-May-2013 - The US Food and Drug Administration has issued some important warning letters in recent weeks. In this special focus, we revisit the lessons for all companies, from website claims, to the obligations of private label distributors.
Vermont House of Representatives gives green light to GMO labeling bill
10-May-2013 - The Vermont House of Representatives has passed H.112, a bill requiring the labeling of all genetically engineered (GE) food sold in Vermont. However, there are plenty of hurdles ahead.
FDA warning letter highlights obligations of private label distributors
10-May-2013 - A new warning letter illustrates FDA’s stance on the obligations of private label distributors to ‘ensure that all phases of the production of [a] product are in compliance with dietary supplement CGMP requirements’.
Website content an extension of labeling: FDA warning letter shows companies need to ‘think about their real estate space’
09-May-2013 - The FDA has issued a warning letter for a company website that links to articles with disease claims cause products to be drugs (FDA), causing the products linked to such articles to be drugs.
Proposed Prop 65 changes ‘could be helpful’, says AHPA legal counsel
08-May-2013 - The proposed changes by California Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. to the state’s controversial Prop 65 law ‘could be helpful to companies that need to deal with this law’, says AHPA's legal counsel.
CRN submits comments to FDA on ‘chemically altered’ definition for NDIs
08-May-2013 - The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) has submitted comments to the FDA via international law firm Steptoe & Johnson, LLP, to address when an ingredient is chemically altered such that it would require a separate NDI notification.
Trade associations urge FDA to issue revised draft guidance on NDI ingredient identity
06-May-2013 - The five associations representing the dietary supplement industry have asked the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue revised guidance on new dietary ingredient (NDI) notifications, with a specific focus on the information to be included to identify the new dietary ingredient.
Warning letters show companies still vague on nature of website language
01-May-2013 - Now, almost 20 years after DSHEA became law, some companies seem to be just starting to get the message that the regulations governing health claims language don’t apply just to product labels. Websites are fair game, too, and can form easy pickings for regulators.
GRAS affirmation will ‘unlock substantial commercial opportunities in North America’ for heart healthy tomato extract Fruitflow, says Provexis CEO
01-May-2013 - An independent expert panel has found the powdered version of tomato-based heart-health ingredient Fruitflow to be Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS).
FDA to probe impact of caffeine on kids' health following launch of Wrigley's Alert Energy Caffeine Gum
30-Apr-2013 - The FDA says it will take a “fresh look” at the health effects of caffeine on kids following the launch of Alert Energy Caffeine Gum - a new caffeinated gum from Wrigley (Mars).
UNPA's Israelsen proposes new carrot to go with FDA's GMP stick
29-Apr-2013 - The dietary supplement industry is falling behind on GMP compliance, says Loren Israelsen, executive director of the United Natural Products Alliance. Fixing that is a matter of coming up with a new carrot to go with the stick wielded by the Food and Drug Administration.
Boxer, DeFazio introduce federal GMO labeling bill
25-Apr-2013 - A bill requiring the labeling of GMO ingredients has been introduced at the federal level by Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-CA and Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-OR. Even though the bill’s chances of passage are uncertain, observers see it as a watershed moment.
Sen. Martin Heinrich: 'The model that DSHEA created is working well'
24-Apr-2013 - Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-NM, one of the dietary supplement industry’s new champions on Capitol Hill, spoke with NutraIngredients-USA to offer his views on the industry and the challenges it faces now.
Drug-tainted weight loss, bodybuilding, and sexual enhancement products top DS recall lists
18-Apr-2013 - Weight loss, bodybuilding and sexual enhancement products tainted with unapproved drug ingredients are responsible for 98% of recalls for ‘dietary supplements’, says a new analysis.