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.
January 21, 2025 - from Food Processing:
"Ultraprocessed foods are “industrially produced edible substances that are imitations of real food.” And you can blame them all on the 1980s tobacco companies.
"That’s pretty much the gist of a 148-page lawsuit against Kraft Heinz, Mondelez International, Post Foods, Coca-Cola Co., PepsiCo, General Mills, Nestle USA, Kellanova, WK Kellogg, Mars and Conagra. They’re accused of designing and marketing ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) to be addictive to children, causing chronic disease.
"The lawsuit was filed at the end of December 2024 in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas on behalf of Bryce Martinez, a Pennsylvania resident who alleges he developed type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease at age 16 as a result of consuming those companies’ products.
"Morgan & Morgan, which claims to be “America's largest injury law firm," brought the case, calling it a 'first-of-its-kind lawsuit.' If those words are taken literally, it could indeed be the first of a spate of lawsuits of this kind.
"The lawsuit includes claims for conspiracy, negligence, fraudulent misrepresentation and unfair business practices. It seeks an unspecified amount of compensatory and punitive damages."
January 14, 2025 - from NPR:
"NPR set off to answer that question at the most popular retailer in the United States. For six years, we have tracked the prices of dozens of items at this very Walmart superstore. And here's what we learned on our latest visit, in December.
"NPR's list includes 96 items from virtually every Walmart aisle: chips and veggies, shampoo and T-shirts, dog food and paper towels. To account for changes in package sizes, we focus on the price per unit, typically per ounce, whether it's toothpaste in a tube or soup in a can.
"Over the course of 2024, the tracked prices on average increased just 0.7% — far less than overall annual inflation, which was 2.7% in November.
"That's because exactly half of our tracked prices stayed the same from December 2023 to December 2024 — a notable relief after the COVID-19 pandemic, when most prices jumped year to year because of turmoil in supply chains and labor markets.
"Twenty-one items in NPR's shopping cart actually got cheaper during the year, including garlic, bananas and salmon. Another 27 products got more expensive, including eggs, ground beef and laundry detergent.
"Items in NPR's shopping cart are much pricier since mid-2019, our last check before the pandemic. On average, those tracked prices have increased around 25%. And that's not far from federal inflation data: Cumulatively, U.S. prices are up 23% since 2019.
"2019 prices will stay in the past. Big price increases are rarely followed by equally big price decreases, historically. That's because seismic shifts in the global economy cannot simply be undone."
January 13, 2025 - from Yahoo Life:
"A new report by the Clean Label Project has found that protein powders may contain something other than muscle-building nutrients: lead and cadmium, both of which are toxic.
"The report tested 160 products from 70 of the top-selling protein powder brands representing 83% of the market. Of the products tested, 47% exceeded one state or federal regulatory rule for safety, including California’s strict Proposition 65 safety thresholds for toxic metals.
"Among those with the highest levels of heavy metal contamination on average, interestingly, were the organic products—which showed three times more lead and twice the amount of cadmium compared to non-organic products.
"Plant-based protein powders also did not fare well, showing three times more lead than whey-based alternatives—while chocolate-flavored powders contained four times more lead than vanilla, aligning with other recent findings of heavy metals being present in cocoa-containing products."
January 16, 2025 - from JNS:
"Jews make up about 2.4% of the American population, per some estimates. A new memorandum of understanding ensures that the U.S. Commerce Department will consider entities owned by Jews to be 'minority business enterprises.'
"The Orthodox chamber and the Minority Business Development Agency, which is part of the Commerce Department, signed the agreement on Monday in Washington during a ceremony attended by Don Graves, the outgoing deputy commerce secretary, and by Jewish business owners and leaders and politicians.
"As part of the agreement, the federal government is creating a new application to become certified as a minority business enterprise. The details are being finalized, but the application will no longer ask applicants to list their specific minority background. Instead, verification will be done during the certification process.
"It is unclear at this time how the government will verify if an applicant is Jewish.
"The agreement will give Jewish-owned businesses greater public awareness through federal initiatives and potential invitations to workshops, seminars, conferences and other educational opportunities."
January 16, 2025 from CPSC :
AIYEATBNB HAIYE03 Electric Immersion Water Heaters have been recalled because the water heaters pose a risk of serious injury and death due to fire and burn hazards.
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 HAIYEATBNB HAIYE03 Electric Immersion Water Heaters 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.
Ningbo Ocean International Trading Co. Ltd, of China, manufactures this product and has been unresponsive to CPSC requests for information about this product or to conduct a recall.
CPSC is aware of 29 reports of the defective electric immersion water heaters igniting, melting, smoking or overheating, including at least 11 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 heart-shaped holes stamped into the metal and an attached yellow plastic power cord. The words “IMMERSION HEATER” and “AUTOMATIC POWER-OFF” are printed on the packaging in green. The defective electric immersion water heaters were sold on Amazon.com from June 2023 through November 2024 for about $20.
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.
January 9, 2025 from Emport LLC:
"The FDA has quietly streamlined the list of tree nuts considered major food allergens. Perhaps the biggest change: coconut is no longer considered a tree nut. This means coconut is no longer subject to mandatory allergen management protocols.
"The list of nuts removed from the list of tree nuts include: beech, butternut, chestnut, chinquapin, coconut, cola/kola, ginkgo, hickory, palm, pili, and shea.
"If your labeling currently has Contains statements including any of these nuts — they should be revised. The Contains statement is reserved only for major food allergens. It is still imperative that you list these nuts in the ingredient list, by their common or usual name.
"The current list of tree nuts which must still be handled as major food allergens — and included in any Contains statement — has been reduced to: Almond, Brazil Nut, Cashew, Filbert/Hazelnut, Macadamia Nut / Bush nut, Pecan, Pine Nut / Pinon Nut. Pistachio, Walnut (Black Walnut, California Walnut, English Walnut, Japanese Walnut/Heartnut, and Persian Walnut)
"Milk remains a major food allergen, but with an expanded definition. Previously only milk from cows required allergen protocols and labeling. Now, milk from domesticated cows, sheep, goats and other ruminants must all be labeled and managed as a major food allergen.
"Additionally, “animal-free” or “precision-fermented” casein and other products must also be labeled as milk.
"Similar to milk, egg remains a major food allergen. However, the definition of egg has expanded to include eggs from not just chickens, but chickens, ducks, geese, quail, and other fowl.
"As above, any protein derived from egg — including a prothttps://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/guidance-industry-questions-and-answers-regarding-food-allergen-labeling-edition-5ein produced via fermentation — could trigger an allergic reaction and must be labeled and handled as an allergen.
FDA Guidance Information is here
January 14, 2025 from Food Business News:
"A front-of-package nutrition label for most packaged foods would include information on saturated fat, sodium and added sugars in a rule proposed by the US Food and Drug Administration Jan. 14.
"The label, also referred to as the “Nutrition Info box,” would show whether the food has low, medium or high levels of the three nutrients. The FDA proposed a range of 5% of the Daily Value (DV) or less for low, 6% to 19% of the DV for medium (appearing as “Med” in the Nutrition Info box) and 20% of the DV or more for high.
"he FDA proposed the Nutrition Info box be placed somewhere in the top third of the principal display panel on the front of the package. The proposed rule does not include foods marketed toward children under 4 years old. The Nutrition Info box would complement the FDA’s Nutrition Facts Label that gives information on nutrients.
"The FDA also is proposing to amend the nutrient content claim definition for low sodium. A low sodium claim currently may be used on a food product, other than a meal product or main dish, if it contains 140 mg or less of sodium per reference amount customarily consumed (RACC). The proposed rule would lower that amount to 115 mg or less.
"he FDA, in creating the proposed Nutrition Info box, conducted research that included a scientific literature review, consumer focus groups and a peer-reviewed experimental study. The proposed rule, if finalized, would require food manufacturers to add a Nutrition Info box to most packaged food products three years after the final rule's effective date for businesses with $10 million or more in annual food sales and four years after the final rule's effective date for businesses with less than $10 million in annual food sales.
"The FDA will accept comments until 120 days after the proposed rule is published in the Federal Register, which is scheduled for Jan. 16. Comments may be submitted electronically here. Written/paper comments may be sent to Dockets Management Staff (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. All submissions received must include the Docket No. FDA-2024-N-2910 for “Food Labeling: Front-of-Package Nutrition Information.”
January 15, 2025 from PBS:
"U.S. regulators on Wednesday banned the dye called Red 3 from the nation’s food supply, nearly 35 years after it was barred from cosmetics because of potential cancer risk.
"Food and Drug Administration officials granted a 2022 petition filed by two dozen food safety and health advocates, who urged the agency to revoke authorization for the substance that gives some candies, snack cakes and maraschino cherries a bright red hue.
"The agency said it was taking the action as a “matter of law” because some studies have found that the dye caused cancer in lab rats. Officials cited a statute known as the Delaney Clause, which requires FDA to ban any additive found to cause cancer in people or animals.
"The dye is known as erythrosine, FD&C Red No. 3 or Red 3. The ban removes it from the list of approved color additives in foods, dietary supplements and oral medicines, such as cough syrups. More than three decades ago, the FDA declined to authorize use of Red 3 in cosmetics and externally applied drugs because a study showed it caused cancer when eaten by rats.
"Food manufacturers will have until January 2027 to remove the dye from their products, while makers of ingested drugs have until January 2028 to do the same. Other countries still allow for certain uses of the dye, but imported foods must meet the new U.S. requirement.
"Red 3 is banned for food use in Europe, Australia and New Zealand except in certain kinds of cherries. The dye will be banned in California starting in January 2027, and lawmakers in Tennessee, Arkansas and Indiana have filed proposals to limit certain dyes, particularly from foods offered in public schools.
"Some food manufacturers have already reformulated products to remove Red 3. In its place they use beet juice; carmine, a dye made from insects; and pigments from foods such as purple sweet potato, radish and red cabbage, according to Sensient Food Colors, a St. Louis-based supplier of food colors and flavorings."
FDA notice is here
January 10, 2025 from VinNews:
"After more than two years of dedicated advocacy, Agudath Israel of Illinois (AIOI) has successfully championed the passage of SB457, a significant piece of legislation now awaiting the governor’s approval. The bill mandates that schools, correctional facilities, and state hospitals provide kosher and halal food options upon request, ensuring that individuals with religious dietary needs have access to meals that align with their faith.
"Notably, the legislation also amends the Kosher Food Act, which prohibits the sale of food wrongly labeled as certified kosher but has been unenforceable, as it did not contain a legal definition of kosher. This bill now provides a definition, which should enable the enforcement of the Kosher Food Act.
"The passage of SB457 represents a landmark achievement, reflecting a commitment to inclusivity and respect for diverse religious practices in public institutions with bipartisan support."
January 6, 2025 from Food Safety News:
"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a new final guidance for industry on the action levels for lead in processed food intended for babies and young children, reflecting the levels of lead at which the agency may consider the food to be adulterated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDC). FDA will consider action levels when deciding whether to bring enforcement action in a particular case, and although industry is recommended to abide by action levels, guidance documents do not establish legally enforceable responsibilities.
"The final guidance covers packaged, processed foods that are marketed for babies and young children less than two years of age, including foods in jars, pouches, tubs, or boxes. These may include ready-to-eat (RTE) foods such as purees, as well as semi-prepared foods such as dry infant cereals. The action levels for processed foods described in the guidance are as follows:
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