Together with Washington DC-based law firm OFW Law, The Food Institute is exploring changes to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) labelling regulations and has unveiled a new guide.

 

“Food labelling regulation, once a stalwart of FDA policy, has entered a state of flux. Food companies now need to negotiate a minefield of changing rules and evolving enforcement policies. Manufacturers also face an increasing number of new threats from class action lawsuits brought under state consumer protection laws,” commented Bruce Silverglade of OFW Law at The Food Institute’s recent full day US Food Labelling Seminar.

 

Re-defining food terms

 

The information-packed seminar covered the entire breadth of food labelling regulation. Presentations ranged from reviewing the basics to emerging issues such as the FDA’s new “off again – on again” nutrition labelling regulations.

 

The course educated food manufacturers on the latest developments affecting the industry. It was designed to provide a comprehensive review of US food labelling requirements. In addition, the seminar focused on policy implications of FDA’s change to qualified health claims rules, re-examination of the meaning of the term ‘healthy’, and attempts to define the term ‘natural’. The USDA’s plan to require labelling of foods with genetically engineered ingredients was also covered.

 

Moreover, the seminar offered participants advice on how to cope with the “wildcard” of food labelling regulation-class action lawsuits. Lawsuit trends were examined, lighting rod claims identified, and companies offered a blueprint on how to minimise exposure to this growing enforcement threat.

 

The Food Institute and OFW Law also unveiled their new Food Labelling Guide at the seminar, so that participants would have an important tool on hand as a reference after the seminar.

 

The fourth edition of The US Food Labelling Guide is now available to industry professionals who need to have the most up-to-date information on hand when labelling the food products they manufacture, market or sell directly to consumers.