The National Institute of Food and Nutrition (INAN in Spanish) published for public consultation the Draft Amendments to GMC Resolutions No. 53/98, 54/98, 07/06 and 08/06 on food additives. Inclusion of beta-carotene from Blakeslea trispora, INS 160a(iii), with coloring function in different food categories.
Month: June 2023
USA – FDA Publishes New FAQs and Additional Tools for the Food Traceability Rule
the FDA posted new frequently asked questions and additional tools to provide industry with more information about the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Food Traceability Rule.
The Food Traceability Rule is designed to facilitate faster identification and rapid removal of potentially contaminated food from the market, resulting in fewer foodborne illnesses and deaths. Foods subject to the final rule requirements appear on the Food Traceability List (FTL).
The new FAQs address questions to help clarify how the rule applies to specific situations and are largely based on questions received during the FDA’s regular interactions with industry and on questions sent via the Technical Assistance Network, a central source of information for questions related to the FSMA rules, programs, and implementation strategies.
Article/Costa Rica “Stop focusing. Influencer marketing and advertising of unhealthy products aimed at children and youth in digital spaces” (in Spanish)
The research “Stop Focusing. Influencer marketing and advertising of unhealthy products aimed at children and youth in digital spaces”, conducted by the Coalition for a Healthy America (CLAS) and Young Leaders Program, indicates that it has been evidenced that the marketing of ultra-processed products has been a determinant in food choices.
Article – Efficacy of front-of-pack warning label system versus guideline for daily amount on healthfulness perception, purchase intention and objective understanding of nutrient content of food products in Guatemala: a cross-over cluster randomized controlled experiment
Front-of-package warning labels (FOPWL) have been adopted in many countries aiming at reducing the consumption of unhealthy food and drink products and have also been considered in Guatemala. The aim of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of FOPWL versus Guidelines for Daily Amount (GDA) on products’ healthfulness perception (HP), purchase intention (PI) and the objective understanding of the nutrient content (UNC) in Guatemala.
FOPWL reduces products’ healthfulness perception and purchase intention, and increases understanding of products’ nutrient content compared to GDA.
USA – FDA Issues Second Procedural Notice on Consumer Research on Front-of-Package Labeling
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a 30-day procedural notice on its plans to conduct a study entitled “Quantitative Research on Front of Package Labeling on Packaged Foods.” The study is a follow up to focus groups conducted in 2022 to further explore consumer responses to various front-of-package labeling schemes. As part of the Paperwork Reduction Act, federal agencies are required to publish a notice in the Federal Register on each proposed information collection to give the public the opportunity to comment.
The FDA is conducting this consumer research to help explore the development of a front-of-package labeling scheme, which is part of the National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, issued as part of the White House Conference held in September 2022 focused on ending hunger and reducing diet-related disease. Front-of-package labeling is intended to complement the Nutrition Facts label on packaged foods by giving consumers additional context to help them identify healthier food selections. A standardized, science-based scheme could help consumers, particularly those with less nutrition knowledge, quickly and easily identify foods that can help them build a healthy eating pattern. The experiences of countries worldwide that have adopted front-of-package labeling suggest that such labeling may help nutrition comprehension and the ability to make healthier choices.
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