The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has completed its health risk assessment for glycoalkaloids in food and animal feeds, especially in potatoes. "Experts identified a health concern for infants and toddlers, considering both mean and high consumers," the agency's announcement states. "Among adults, there is a health concern for high consumers only. Glycoalkaloids poisoning can cause acute gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea." "Based on the latest available knowledge, EFSA derived a lowest observed adverse effect level of 1 milligram per kilogram of body weight per day. This equates to the lowest dose at which undesired effects are observed," according to the statement. "Peeling, boiling and frying can reduce the content of glycoalkaloids in food. For example, peeling potatoes can reduce their content by between 25 and 75%, boiling in water between 5 and 65%, and frying in oil between 20 and 90%."
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A New York federal court has granted Crystal Farms Refrigerated Distribution Co.'s motion to dismiss a putative class action alleging that the packaging of Diner's Choice mashed potatoes misleads consumers by featuring "Made with Real Butter" on the front despite containing both butter and margarine. Reyes v. Crystal Farms Refrigerated Distrib. Co., No. 18-2250 (E.D.N.Y., entered July 26, 2019). The court dismissed the allegations relying on the "butter" representation because the statement "is not misleading. Defendant's mashed potatoes contain butter. [] To the extent that including a label on a mashed-potatoes package indicating that the product is 'made with real butter' may create confusion as to whether the mashed potatoes also contain margarine, such confusion is sufficiently dispelled by the ingredients label on the back of the package, which states twice—and once in bold font set apart from the rest of the items listed in the ingredients label—that the product…
A consumer has alleged that TGI Friday's Inc. misleads consumers with the name of its "Potato Skins," including the "Cheddar & Bacon," "Bacon Ranch" and "Sour Cream & Onion" varieties, because the products contain only "potato flakes" and "potato starch." Troncoso v. TGI Friday's Inc., No. 19-2735 (S.D.N.Y., filed March 27, 2019). The plaintiff alleges that the "labeling deceives consumers into believing that they are receiving a healthier snack, but Defendant's products do not live up to these claims." "The online version of the San Francisco Chronicle, sfgate.com, published an article titled, 'The Benefits of Eating Potato Skins,' touting many nutritional benefits in consuming potato skins, noting their high content of vitamin B-6, vitamin C, thiamin, niacin, iron, potassium, magnesium, and fiber," the plaintiff asserts. "Similar articles and blog posts can be found on the Internet, where many reasonable consumers believe it to be the case." The complaint explains that…
In response to a petition for a constitutional injunction from a group of Mexican potato growers, a federal district court in Los Mochis, Mexico, has banned the import of U.S. potatoes to “preserve food sovereignty and the health of Mexican crop fields.” The growers reportedly argued that imported potatoes create a risk of crop disease and that Mexican agricultural authorities had failed to take preventive action. See New York Times, August 4, 2017. Issue 644
