Monday March 8, 2010

FDA Issues Warnings On Label Claims

Washington — The need to provide reliable nutrition information was highlighted in an open letter to the food industry from The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Recent violations in food labeling include unauthorized health claims, nutrient content claims and use of terms such as “healthy” and others that have strict, regulatory definitions. The FDA says it plans to propose guidance for calorie and nutrient front-of-pack labeling, working collaboratively with the food industry.

Labeling for 22 food products from 17 manufacturers were found to be in violation of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, the FDA reports. Companies that received warning letters have 15 business days to respond to the FDA with explanations of what they will do to correct the labels.

No candy items were singled out by the FDA.