Industry News

FDA Releases Food Allergens Final Guidance and a New Draft Guidance

On November 29, FDA released Edition 5 (final guidance) to revise and replace Edition 4 (2006), Questions and Answers Regarding Food Allergens, Including the Food Allergen and Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (FALCPA). It contains revised and new questions and answers relating to food allergens, including questions and answers about FALCPA and the Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research Act of 2021 (FASTER Act), which amended the definition of major food allergen. FDA issued the Draft Guidance for Industry: Questions and Answers Regarding Food Allergen Labeling (Edition 5) to receive comments on the new and revised questions and answers, and as appropriate will move questions and answers to the final guidance document after reviewing comments and incorporating changes. Comments on the draft are due on January 29, 2023. Food Northwest’s Operations & Technical Affairs Committee will evaluate the draft.

 

FDA Extends Comment Period on Definition of “Healthy”

The FDA has extended the public comment period to February 16, 2023, for its September 29, 2022, proposed rule to update the definition of the nutrient content claim “healthy” on food packaging. To include the healthy claim on packages, products would need to adhere to limits for fat, sodium, and added sugars. Some food that cannot currently be labeled healthy but are part of a healthy diet, like nuts, seeds, and salmon would qualify under the proposed definition. For more information and the proposed rule, visit https://www.fda.gov/food/food-labeling-

 

1-day Conference: RNG – From Farm to Fuel

This free conference for food processors and Northwest fleets is focused on the production and use of renewable natural gas (RNG). It will be held on November 10, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm at the Comfort Suites in Kennewick, Washington. Lean how RNG presents opportunities for food processors—use of food byproducts and energy and emissions savings. The first half of the day will review how RNG is produced, cleaned, made available to gas pipeline infrastructure, and sold. After lunch, the challenges and benefits of transitioning from diesel to RNG will be discussed. To register, visit: https://www.nwga.org/events/rng-from-food-to-fuel/

 

FDA is Studying Front-of-Package Labeling to Indicate Healthy Food

As part of FDA’s effort to improve consumer nutrition, FDA will investigate development of new labeling, which will not replace the current labeling but will be a star-rating or traffic-light type rating on the front of the product package that will indicate the nutritional value of the product. This proposal came out of the recent White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health. Below are links to recent articles on the labeling and on European and Chilean experience with such labelling systems. Chile saw a 37% decrease in daily purchase of “unhealthy” nutrients after the labels were implemented. There is also a link to the White House’s Food Strategy presented at the recent Conference. Read the full article in the Washington Post here

 

Welcome Simone Frazier as new Board Member

Food Northwest welcomes a new member to its Board of Directors. Simone Frazier will be replacing VP Randy Eronimous who took a new position with Darigold. Ms. Frazier joined Darigold in July 2022 as its Senior Vice President of Manufacturing. She has considerable experience in food processing having recently served as Vice President of Engineering at Keurig Dr. Pepper, Inc and prior to that over 25 years with Land O’Lakes, Inc.

 
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