The Australian State and Territory food ministers, under the umbrella of the Federal Government’s Forum on Food Regulation, propose to investigate a suitable front-of-pack nutrition labelling model as an alternative to the Traffic Light system or Dietary Intake system. Meanwhile, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is contemplating a new points-based labeling system for U.S. food and drink products. On Friday, Australian and New Zealand Ministers agreed to the need for an “interpretive”... ...Read more »

A leading US health body, the Institute of Medicine, yesterday called for front-of-pack labelling focussing on saturated fat, trans fat, sodium and total caloric information.A report by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) said the four nutrient elements were routinely overconsumed and associated most strongly with diet-related health problems such as obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer. “Calories, saturated fat, trans fats, and sodium present... ...Read more »

All eight US food manufacturers participating in the Smart Choices Program labelling scheme have agreed to drop the logo from their products amid claims the label could mislead consumers. The eight companies – ConAgra Foods, General Mills, Kellogg, Kraft Foods, PepsiCo, Riviana Foods, Sun-Maid and Unilever – have agreed to a request from Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal to remove the logo from their products – at least until investigations being conducted by Blumenthal... ...Read more »

The roll-out of food labels designed to help US shoppers eat more healthily has been halted after food safety officials started an investigation on whether nutrition claims within the labels were misleading. The Smart Choices Program, launched in August across hundreds of products, said that it will “voluntarily postpone active operations and not encourage wider use of the logo at this time by either new or currently enrolled companies”. Participating companies include: Kellogg, Kraft... ...Read more »

America’s food watchdog is testing nutrition claims found on the front of food packaging after complaints of misleading health claims, the regulator informed food companies earlier this week. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is concerned that the health claims may be becoming a marketing gimmick and will punish anyone breaking labelling laws. “Some nutritionists have questioned whether this information is more marketing oriented than health oriented, and judging from some of the... ...Read more »