THIS SECTION IS FOR NEWS AND INTERESTING STORIES RELATED TO FOOD, NUTRITION AND FOOD PROCESSING. THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY RELATED TO KOSHER BUT MAY BE OF INTEREST TO THE KOSHER CONSUMER, MANUFACTURER OR MASHGIACH.
July 17, 2025 from the FoodDive
"President Donald Trump said Coca-Cola agreed to use cane sugar in its namesake soda in the U.S., but the beverage giant stopped short of confirming his claim.
"A Coca-Cola spokesperson, when asked about Trump’s post, said the company appreciated the president’s 'enthusiasm for our iconic Coca-Cola brand.' They added that 'more details on new innovative offerings within our Coca-Cola product range will be shared soon.'
"For four decades, Coca-Cola sold in the U.S. has generally been sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup. Coke in some countries, such as Mexico, uses sugar."
Ed. note: There is speculation in the Jewish media that Coke would be kosher for Passover year-round is Passover Coke is made with sugar. This is probably not correct, since Coke contains other ingredients besides the sweetener. .
July 16, 2025 from the Food Processing
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced it is revoking, or proposing to revoke, 52 food standards after concluding they are obsolete and unnecessary. The 52 standards are for canned fruits and vegetables, dairy products, baked goods, macaroni products and other foods.
Today’s actions include publication of the following:
July 10, 2025 from the Food Processing
"Luxembourg’s Ferrero Group will become one of the largest and broadest food processors in the U.S. with its $3.1 billion deal to acquire iconic U.S. cereal company WK Kellogg Co.
"The two sides this morning (July 10) announced a definitive agreement with Ferrero – maker of Nutella and more recently acquirer of Nestle’s U.S. candy business and ice cream maker Wells Enterprises/Blue Bunny – paying $23 per share in cash. Kellogg’s stock had been hovering between $15-18 per share.
"The acquisition includes the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of WK Kellogg Co's portfolio of breakfast cereals across U.S., Canada and the Caribbean. International cereals went with snack-heavy Kellanova when the former Kellogg Co. split in two in October 2023.
"Kellanova didn’t last long either; it’s in the midst of being acquired by Mars Inc., which has been approved by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission but is being held up by European antitrust regulators.
"Since the split, WK Kellogg’s sales and net income have dipped – from $2.763 billion sales and $110 million net in 2023 to $2.708 billion sales and $72 million net in 2024. In its first quarter of this year, sales declined another 6.2% and net income another 45.5%.
"Ferrero’s North American portfolio includes self-developed brands Nutella, Kinder, Tic Tac and Ferrero Rocher, as well as acquired brands Butterfinger, Keebler, Famous Amos, Jelly Belly, Nerds, Trolli, Blue Bunny, Bomb Pop and Halo Top.
"The agreement has been unanimously approved by Kellogg’s board of directors, but still needs approval by WK Kellogg Co shareowners, regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions and is currently expected to close in the second half of this year."
July 14, 2025 from the FDA
"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it had granted Gardenia Blue Interest Group’s (GBIG) color additive petition to use the color gardenia (genipin) blue in various foods, at levels consistent with good manufacturing practice. It is the fourth color derived from natural sources approved by the FDA for use in foods in the last two months.
"Gardenia (genipin) blue is derived from the fruit of the gardenia, a flowering evergreen. The FDA has approved the color additive for use in sports drinks, flavored or enhanced non-carbonated water, fruit drinks and ades, ready-to-drink teas, hard candy, and soft candy.
"The three colors derived from natural sources approved in May were: galdieria extract blue, a blue colorant derived from the unicellular red algae Galdieria sulphuraria; calcium phosphate, a white powder; and butterfly pea flower extract, a blue color that can be used to achieve a range of shades including bright blues, intense purple, and natural greens.
"In addition to approving a new color additive, the FDA also announced today that it had sent a letter to manufacturers encouraging them to accelerate the phase-out of FD&C Red No. 3 in foods, including dietary supplements, sooner than the January 15, 2027, required deadline."
June 4, 2025 from the AFN
"San Francisco-based Wildtype will be the first company to launch cultivated seafood in the US after securing an FDA ‘no questions’ letter regarding the safety of its cell cultured salmon.
"Wildtype is the fourth cultivated-protein producer to complete a US pre-market scientific and safety consultation after UPSIDE Foods, GOOD Meat, and Mission Barns, and the third to have full approval to sell (Mission Barns is still awaiting the final go-ahead from the USDA for its cultivated fat).
"According to a scientific memo published by the FDA on the same date, the cells used to establish Wildtype’s cell lines were originally isolated from coho salmon from a Washington state hatchery at the “fry stage” of development, shortly after the fish hatch from the egg.
"The mesenchymal cells, which are capable of dividing and developing into multiple cell types such as fat, muscle, and connective tissue cells, are adapted to grow in liquid suspension culture without having to attach to a surface.
"The memo does not explain how Wildtype texturizes or shapes the harvested cells to create products that resemble raw salmon but refers to “post-harvest thermal processing” steps that serve to deactivate/denature any residual growth factors in the product."
July 14, 2025 from the European Biotechnology
"The British Food Standards Agency (FSA) has formally accepted an application by French start-up Gourmey SAS for regulatory approval of its cultivated foie gras, a product developed using cellular agriculture techniques. The submission was initially lodged on 26 July 2024 and was made in parallel across five jurisdictions: the European Union, United States, Singapore, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom."
July 10, 2025 from the CPSC
Ozark Trail 64 oz Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottles has been recalled because the lid can forcefully eject, posing serious impact and laceration hazards, when a consumer attempts to open the capped bottles after food, carbonated beverages or perishable beverages, such as juice or milk, are stored inside over time.
Consumer Contact: Walmart toll-free at 800-925-6278 from 7 a.m. through 9 p.m. CT any day or online at www.walmart.com/help or https://corporate.walmart.com/recalls for additional information.
Description: This recall involves Ozark Trail 64 oz Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottles sold with model number 83-662 on the product packaging. The stainless-steel bottles are silver with a black one-piece screwcap lid. They measure 4.41 x 4.41 x 11.5 inches and there is an Ozark Trail logo embedded on the side of the bottle. The model number does not appear on the product.
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled water bottles and contact Walmart for a full refund. Consumers can bring the bottle to their nearest Walmart store for a refund.
Incidents/Injuries: Walmart has received three reports of consumers who were injured when struck in the face by a lid forcefully ejected from these bottles upon opening. Two consumers suffered permanent vision loss after being struck in the eye.
Sold Exclusively At: Walmart stores nationwide and online at Walmart.com since 2017 for about $15.
June 26, 2025 from the CPSC
Peg Perego Tatamia 3-in-1 Recliner, Swings and High Chairs have been recalled because the 3-in-1 products pose a suffocation risk because they were marketed for infant sleep, and they have an incline angle greater than 10 degrees, in violation of the Infant Sleep Products Rule and Safe Sleep for Babies Act. In addition, the products fail to meet mandatory warning requirements under the high chair standard.
Consumer Contact: Peg Perego toll-free at 877-737-3464 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, email at service@pegperego.com or online at https://www.pegperego.com/en_us/baby/recalls or https://www.pegperego.com/en_us/baby/ and click on “Recalls” at the bottom of the page for more information.
Description: This recall involves Peg Perego Tatamia recliners, swings and high chairs. The products convert from a recliner to a high chair and to an unpowered infant swing, and they were sold in “Ice” (gray) color with model number IMTATANA01BL73. The top of the padded leather seat has the brand name “Peg Perego” printed on it. In high chair mode “Peg Perego” is printed on the front of the tray. The adjustable side of the product has “tatamia” printed on it. Only products manufactured on or after June 23, 2022, and/or purchased on or after November 12, 2022, are included in this recall. The manufacture date in YYYY/MM/DD format and model number can be found on the base of the product.
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled products and contact Peg Perego for a full refund. Consumers should contact Peg Perego for a prepaid shipping label and packaging to send the products back to Peg Perego. Peg Perego and Amazon are contacting all known purchasers directly.
Sold At: Online at PegPerego.com, Amazon.com, Target.com and other websites from November 2022 through January 2025 for about $450.
June 26, 2025 from the CPSC
Laboomkey Electric Immersion Water Heaters, models RDK, RDKL, RDK-H and HT2000W have been recalled because they pose a risk of serious injury and death due to fire and burn hazards. The product is intended to be immersed in water for the purpose of heating the water.
Consumer Action: CPSC urges consumers to immediately dispose of the electric immersion water heaters. There is no remedy for consumers because the manufacturer is refusing to cooperate with CPSC.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers to immediately stop using Laboomkey Electric Immersion Water Heaters, models RDK, RDKL, RDK-H and HT2000W, because they pose a risk of serious injury and death due to fire and burn hazards. The product is intended to be immersed in water for the purpose of heating the water.
Changsha Yiruituo Trade Co. Ltd., of China, imports this product and has been unwilling to conduct a recall.
CPSC is aware of 81 reports of the Laboomkey electric immersion water heaters igniting, melting, smoking or overheating, including at least 31 reports of fires. The defective electric immersion water heaters will catch fire if the unit is not completely submerged in water.
The defective electric immersion water heaters are metal tubes with several holes stamped into the metal. Some have an attached black plastic power cord, while others have blue end caps and a white plastic power cord. The defective electric immersion water heaters were sold on Amazon.com from May 2023 through May 2025 for about $35.
June 18, 2025 from Food Dive:
June 18, 2025 from Food Dive:
June 17, 2025 from Food Dive:
June 24, 2025 from Food Dive:
"The law mandates disclosures for more than 40 ingredients, including food dyes and additives commonly used in food processing to help with texture, taste or shelf life. The legislation applies to food product labels developed or copyrighted on or after Jan. 1, 2027.
"Federal action could overturn aspects of the law, including what’s subject to the legislation. The law would no longer apply if the FDA instituted its own labeling requirements and ingredients could be exempted if the agency approved their safety."
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