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FDA’s Draft Guidance on Plant-Based Milk Labelling: Experts Respond

February 23, 2023

Yesterday, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released draft guidance on plant-based milk labelling. The guidance, which is not legally binding, affirms that plant-based products can use the word “milk” on their packaging. The decision has been made based on FDA research which found that consumers are not confused by this usage, with most preferring the term “milk” over others such as “drink” or “beverage”. However, the FDA notes that plant-based milks do not contain the same balance of nutrients as cows’ milk, and suggests that manufacturers should make this clear on packaging with statements such as “50% more calcium than milk” or “Contains a lower amount of potassium than milk”. The document has already proven controversial; some commenters have welcomed the recognition that …

Topics:Labeling

Image: FDA.gov

Politics & Law

“Imposes New Burdens”: FDA Releases Draft Guidance on Plant-Based Milk Labels

February 22, 2023

Today, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released draft guidance on plant-based milk labeling. According to the agency, the draft guidance, when finalized, is non-binding and will represent the current thinking of the FDA on the topic of naming and voluntary nutrient labeling of plant-based milks. In summary, the agency now says plant-based milk alternatives can be called “milk”, but recommends such products to identify certain nutritional differences from cow’s milk on their front-of-package labeling. In the guidance document, the FDA notes it has not established compositional requirements for plant-based milk alternatives, and that such products comprise a wide diversity of ingredients and methods of production. Consumers not confused The agency also acknowledges that, as evidenced by numerous consumer studies and its own focus …

Topics:Food regulations Labeling

©ProVeg International

Politics & Law

ProVeg Urges FDA to Protect Consumer Choice as Agency Considers Plant-Based “Milk” Ban

December 20, 2022

Food awareness organization ProVeg International is urging the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to refrain from issuing new guidance that could discriminate against America’s rapidly growing plant-based milk sector. The FDA has sent an unpublished guidance document, entitled “Labeling of Plant-based Milk Alternatives and Voluntary Nutrient Statements”, to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). ProVeg has learned this document may include a ban on the use of “milk” terms for plant-based products out of fear that it misleads consumers. The organization is now calling on the FDA to protect dairy-free milk products from such labeling restrictions, which it says would discourage and impede food innovation. Congressional letter Four US Senators, including Cory Booker, Mike Lee and Julia Brownley, already issued a letter to …

Topics:Labeling policy Proveg International

FDA’s Approval of Cultivated Meat: Industry Leaders Respond

November 18, 2022

Following this week’s groundbreaking news of UPSIDE Food receiving GRAS status for its cultivated chicken, marking the first time in the world that the FDA has given the green light to a cultivated meat product, industry leaders from the GFI, Stray Dog Capital, BioTech Foods, and Synthesis Capital here provide commentary on the significance of this historic development. To recap: UPSIDE Foods has now successfully completed the FDA’s rigorous pre-market safety review for its cultivated chicken, demonstrating that it is as safe as conventional chicken. This historic milestone will pave the way for consumers to access these products in restaurants and retail across the country and ultimately across the world. Seth Roberts, GFI The Good Food Institute Europe (GFI Europe) – the leading …

Topics:FDA approval Synthesis Capital

Cultivated, Cell-Cultured & Biotechnology

Cell Cultured US Market Entry Edges Closer as USDA Seeks Comments on Labeling

September 15, 2021September 15, 2021

The US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) with regards to cell-cultured labeling of meat and poultry products. The ANPR will solicit comments and information on labeling and the FSIS will use these comments to inform future regulatory requirements. “We want to hear from stakeholders and will consider their comments as we work on a proposed regulation for labeling these products” – USDA The ANPR requests comment on specific topics to be considered during regulatory approval on labeling of cell-cultured meat and poultry products. Topics include; consumer expectations on nutritional composition and organoleptic qualities, naming of products that are neither false nor misleading, economic data, and any consumer research related to labeling …

Topics:Labeling regulatory approval

©Sternchemie

Company News

Sunflower Lecithin From Sternchemie is Recognised as Safe by the FDA for North American Market

April 29, 2021

Sternchemie has received a GRAS “letter of no objection” from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its wide range of sunflower lecithins. GRAS stands for “Generally Recognised As Safe” and provides certainty and transparency for food manufacturers. With this determination, the FDA confirms that sunflower lecithin from Sternchemie, whether liquid, de-oiled or hydrolysed, can safely be used in a wide variety of food products.

Topics:FDA approval Sternchemie Sunflower

Science

“Cell-Cultured” as the Newly Accepted Term For Lab-Grown Meat in the USA

May 15, 2021March 12, 2021

After some back and forth, it has been tentatively agreed in the USA to call meat from the laboratory “cell-cultured”. This was announced by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after a long exchange with the big players in the clean meat industry.

Topics:Labeling

Food & Beverage

Impossible Foods Receives FDA Approval for Retail Launch

August 5, 2019

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the Impossible Burger for direct-to-consumer sales at grocery stores in the US. The website now says, “Good news! The Impossible™ is headed to U.S. grocery stores later this year.”

Topics:FDA approval Impossible Burger Impossible Whopper

Society

USDA and FDA Announce a Formal Agreement to Regulate Cell-Cultured Food Products from Cell Lines of Livestock and Poultry

April 25, 2021March 9, 2019

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced a formal agreement to jointly oversee the production of human food products derived from the cells of livestock and poultry.

Topics:government regulations

Company News

Impossible Foods to Expand Further in 2019

July 28, 2022December 17, 2018

Impossible Foods was launched in 2011 and since become one of the leading players of the plant-based scene. The Impossible Burger is available across all 50 U.S. states, including high end restaurants and fast food chains and the company’s investors include Bill Gates, Google Ventures, and Open Philanthropy Project.

Topics:Impossible Burger

Society

Memphis Meat and NAMI Ask Trump to Regulate Labelling of Laboratory Meat

September 13, 2018

The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) and cell-based meat developer Memphis Meats have jointly written a letter to President Trump asking for help in clarifying the regulatory framework for cell-based meat and poultry products. They are calling on the Trump administration to regulate the US protein industry. “Cell-based meat products are meat produced from animal cells in cell cultures. They are an “and”, not an “or” solution, and the latest in a long history of innovation in American agriculture,” the letter says. “In recognition of the common desire to support innovation and feed the world, we will in future use the term “cell-based meat and poultry” to describe products that are the result of animal cell culture.” Uma Valeti, CEO of the Memphis Meats start-up, …

Topics:trump

New Law on Vegan “Meat” Labelling Threatens Imprisonment: Tofurky Fight Back

October 15, 2018September 3, 2018

American broadcasters CBS news reported this Tuesday that Missouri is the first US state to bring into effect a new law banning the use of the word “meat” to describe any product not derived from an animal. From immediate effect, food manufacturers will be unable to describe products as meat if “not derived from harvested production livestock or poultry.”

Topics:Labeling Tofurkey

Food & Beverage

Impossible Burger Passes FDA Approval for Human Consumption

August 9, 2018August 7, 2018

The main ingredient contained in the Impossible Burger, a clean meat product created by Impossible Foods, has finally been officially approved by the Food and Drugs Association of the US.

Topics:Impossible Burger

FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb Albert H. Teich/Shutterstock

Society

FDA Attempts to Declassify Plant Milks

July 28, 2018July 27, 2018

The US Food and Drug Administration spoke in a conference last week to question whether the “standards of identity” applied to milk in the United States are being enforced correctly, in a bid to protect the dairy milk industry amid the current explosion of vegan milk drinks.

The vegconomist-newsletterinformation for decision-makers

The vegconomist-newsletter
information for decision-makers