Russian MP Oleg Mikheyev has reportedly asked the government to require “graphic warning labels” on fast-food packaging in an effort to stop the spread of obesity and improve the health of Russian citizens. Mikheyev, who previously proposed a tax on “junk food,” also argued that producers of food products such as potato chips or soft drink be required to include photos of illnesses caused by excessive consumption of those products. “People know that sugar can cause type-2 diabetes, but few of them actually know what the trophic ulcers look like. Same goes for kidney stones that appear because of excessive consumption of salty foods or cholesterol plaques,” Mikheyev reportedly wrote in a letter to Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. Russian politicians have discussed mandatory labeling for fast food and other food products in the past, including in a July 2015 bill that proposed restricting fast-food and alcohol ads. See RT, January…
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The European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA’s) Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavorings and Processing Aids (CEF Panel) has issued a scientific opinion recommending revisions to the safety assessments conducted for food contact materials (FCM). After considering scientific comments received during public consultation, the CEF Panel advocates new standards for estimating food intake and calculating the level of FCM migration into food. The scientific opinion also finds that genotoxicity testing for FCM substances should be mandatory even in low-exposure scenarios, and that nanomaterials used in FCM should be evaluated on a “case by case” basis. To address different consumption scenarios, the CEF Panel divided foods into four categories based on exposure data extrapolated from EFSA’s Comprehensive European Food Consumption Database as well as “default water consumption figures set by the World Health Organization (WHO) for infants.” For each of these food categories, the panel identified the “critical” age group with…
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has declared that two E. coli outbreaks linked to Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. “appear to be over,” but the agency has not identified a food source for the outbreaks. “The epidemiologic evidence collected during this investigation suggested that a common meal item or ingredient served at Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants was a likely source of both outbreaks,” the agency said. “When a restaurant serves foods with several ingredients that are mixed or cooked together and then used in multiple menu items, it can be more difficult for epidemiologic studies to identity [sic] the specific ingredient that is contaminated.” Meanwhile, Chipotle faces a joint investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Department of Justice into a 2015 norovirus outbreak in one of its California restaurants. The company has reportedly been served an additional subpoena requiring it to produce documents on company-wide…
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has finalized standards that seek to reduce Salmonella and Campylobacter in ground chicken and turkey products, as well as raw chicken breasts, legs and wings. Part of the Food Safety and Inspection Service’s (FSIS’) effort to revamp the poultry inspection system, the new rules require routine sampling throughout the year rather than infrequent sampling on consecutive days, and authorize the agency to publicize facility results online. “Over the past seven years, USDA has put in place tighter and more strategic food safety measures than ever before for meat and poultry products. We have made strides in modernizing every aspect of food safety inspection, from company record keeping, to labeling requirements, to the way we perform testing in our labs,” said USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack in a February 4, 2016, news release. “These new standards, in combination with greater transparency about poultry companies’ food safety…
New research reportedly suggests that belief in food addiction translates into support for obesity-related policies, “even when accounting for the significant associations of age, gender and political party.” Erica Schulte, et al., “Belief in Food Addiction and Obesity-Related Policy Support,” PLoS One, January 2016. Relying on the responses of 200 individuals recruited through Amazon Mechanical Turk to answer questions about belief in food addiction and support for 13 obesity-related initiatives, researchers reported that “belief in food addiction and political party both had moderate effect sizes for predicting support for obesity-related policy.” “Historically, the identification of a substance as addictive shifts public perceptions in a manner that increases support for public policies that aim to reduce the negative impact of the substance (e.g., restrictions on marketing, taxation),” the study’s authors noted. “For example, the identification of nicotine as addictive, rather than habit forming, was one of the defining moments that shifted…
An online campaign launched by Consumers Union asks, “Have you ever quickly selected one box of crackers over another because the box said it was ‘natural’? Food companies know you probably have. They also know they can slap the word ‘natural’ on just about anything.” The advocacy group urges consumers to sign its petition urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prohibit use of the term “natural” or take action to define it. Findings of a December 2015 Consumer Reports survey reportedly indicate respondents want stricter standards for natural and organic labeling on meat, poultry and packaged and processed foods. Issue 592
The World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity (ECHO) has issued a January 25, 2016, report that recommends, among other things, a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), context-specific dietary guidelines, and “interpretive” front-of-pack labeling. Taking “a life-course approach” that focuses on what it describes as an obesogenic environment, the report urges WHO, member governments and non-state actors to implement specific action items designed to (i) promote intake of healthy foods and reduce intake of unhealthy foods and SSBs among children; (ii) promote physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviors; (iii) provide guidance on preconception and antenatal care to reduce the risk of childhood obesity; (iv) support healthy diet, sleep and physical activity during childhood; (v) promote healthy school environments, health and nutrition literacy; and (vi) provide family-based lifestyle weight management services. In particular, ECHO singles out food and beverage marketing as “a major issue demanding change that will protect…
The Manhattan Institute, a conservative think tank based in Washington, D.C., has published its annual survey of plaintiffs’ bar activities. Focusing on class action and mass tort litigation, the survey addresses consumer fraud allegations, labor and employment claims, and securities actions, among others, reporting that 29 percent of corporate counsel expect data privacy lawsuits “to grow more than any other class-action line of business.” Issue 592
A consumer has filed a putative class action against Quorn Foods, Inc. alleging the term “mycoprotein,” which the company uses in its advertising, implies the product is “the same or substantially similar to a mushroom, truffle or morel” but Quorn products “are actually made of mold.” Birbrower v. Quorn Foods, Inc., No. 608107 (Cal. Super. Ct., Los Angeles Cty., C. Dist., complaint filed January 22, 2016). The complaint argues that Quorn labels misrepresent “mycoprotein,” specifically citing the packaging claim that “Quorn [products] are made with mycoprotein (‘myco’ is Greek for ‘fungi’) and are completely meatless and soy-free. There are believed to be over 600,000 varieties of fungi in the world, many of which are among the most sought after foods like varieties of mushroom, truffles, and morels.” The plaintiff alleges violations of California consumer-protection statutes and fraud, and she seeks an injunction, implementation of product labels that state that “this…
A consumer has filed a putative class action against Kellogg Co. alleging the company produces Mother’s Cookies® with partially hydrogenated oil (PHO), which contains trans fat, in violation of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) ban on the ingredient. Hawkins v. Kellogg Co., No. 16-0147 (S.D. Cal., filed January 21, 2016). The plaintiff asserts FDA “determined that PHO is unsafe for use in food” in 2015 and alleges as a result that Kellogg is prohibited from using the food additive in its cookies. “Today there is no question about the scientific consensus on trans fat,” the complaint argues, describing several studies examining the effects of PHO on the human body. For alleged violations of California consumer-protection statutes, nuisance and breach of implied warranty, the plaintiff seeks class certification, restitution, an injunction, a corrective advertising campaign and attorney’s fees. Issue 592
