Regulation of food labeling in the United States has been
developed over the better part of a century to achieve a number of policy
objectives. Food labels must be truthful
and not misleading, in order to ensure consumers understand what is being
purchased and to prevent fraud, deception or use of statements that may
mislead. Food labeling is also intended to
require disclosure of certain information to allow consumers to make informed
choices about the product(s) they purchase and consume.
Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), the Food and Drug Administration mandates a number of elements that must be on a consumer food label such as statements of identity, net contents, ingredients, identity of manufacturer, packer or distributor, and allergen and nutrition labeling. The mandatory elements are intended to provide information about the safety and nutritional components of the food to help manage nutritional and food safety concerns by manufacturers, consumers and regulators.
Voluntary elements (such as nutrient (beyond required Nutrition Facts information) and health claims, presence or absence claims, and ingredient claims) on a food label are those that are at the discretion of the manufacturer. These elements can provide relevant information to consumers- but are not essential to a consumer’s ability to choose a safe food. These claims also are the subject of disagreement as to the level of clarity and also whether the intended information is clear to consumers.
Similarly, claims related to food source or production method - local, organic, natural, healthy, non-GMO and others are intended to encourage consumers with interests in those food sources to make specific purchasing decisions. Whether the source or production methods signal any difference in nutrition, safety, or quality of a particular food – intentionally/accurately or not, is a more challenging question. There is an increasing interest in making some of the claims be better defined (natural and healthy), and some claims (non-GMO or contains GMO material) to be mandatory, even though they do not meet the standard of requirement under FFDCA to require mandatory statements.
This webinar explores the legal and scientific approaches to consideration of mandatory and voluntary elements on food label, with specific emphasis on allergen labeling (mandatory), and GMO labeling (under current regulatory decision making).
Learning Objectives: Participants will learn about
Presenters:
Janet Collins, PhD, RD
Tony Pavel, JD
Farida Mohamedshah, MS, CNS (moderator)
Length: 1 hour
Contact Hours: 1 hour
Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), the Food and Drug Administration mandates a number of elements that must be on a consumer food label such as statements of identity, net contents, ingredients, identity of manufacturer, packer or distributor, and allergen and nutrition labeling. The mandatory elements are intended to provide information about the safety and nutritional components of the food to help manage nutritional and food safety concerns by manufacturers, consumers and regulators.
Voluntary elements (such as nutrient (beyond required Nutrition Facts information) and health claims, presence or absence claims, and ingredient claims) on a food label are those that are at the discretion of the manufacturer. These elements can provide relevant information to consumers- but are not essential to a consumer’s ability to choose a safe food. These claims also are the subject of disagreement as to the level of clarity and also whether the intended information is clear to consumers.
Similarly, claims related to food source or production method - local, organic, natural, healthy, non-GMO and others are intended to encourage consumers with interests in those food sources to make specific purchasing decisions. Whether the source or production methods signal any difference in nutrition, safety, or quality of a particular food – intentionally/accurately or not, is a more challenging question. There is an increasing interest in making some of the claims be better defined (natural and healthy), and some claims (non-GMO or contains GMO material) to be mandatory, even though they do not meet the standard of requirement under FFDCA to require mandatory statements.
This webinar explores the legal and scientific approaches to consideration of mandatory and voluntary elements on food label, with specific emphasis on allergen labeling (mandatory), and GMO labeling (under current regulatory decision making).
Learning Objectives: Participants will learn about
- the rationale for mandatory and voluntary elements to a food label
- the misbranding of food
- the role of USDA in labeling regulation of meat, poultry and eggs
- the regulation of the US Organic Standards Act
Presenters:
Janet Collins, PhD, RD
Tony Pavel, JD
Farida Mohamedshah, MS, CNS (moderator)
Length: 1 hour
Contact Hours: 1 hour