Author: infoAlimentario

Argentina – The Argentine Food Code has been amended regarding carob flour

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Through Joint Resolution 25/2025, the Secretariat of Health Management and the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries amend the Argentine Food Code regarding carob flour.

ARTICLE 1.- Article 681 of the Argentine Food Code is hereby replaced, which shall be worded as follows: “Article 681: The name Carob Flour means the product of the grinding of clean, healthy and dry seeds of the white carob tree n.c. Neltuma alba (Griseb.) C.E. Hughes & G.P. Lewis and Neltuma chilensis (Molina) C.E. Hughes & G.P. Lewis, black carob tree: Neltuma nigra (Griseb.) C.E. Hughes & G.P. Lewis, sweet carob tree: Neltuma flexuosa (DC.) C.E. Hughes & G.P. Lewis, alpataco tree: Neltuma alpataco (Phil.) C.E. Hughes & G.P. Lewis, caldén tree: Neltuma caldenia (Burkart) C.E. Hughes & G.P. Lewis and Vinal: Neltuma ruscifolia (Griseb.) C.E.


Must comply with the microbiological requirements of this Code.
– The product must be called: “Carob flour,” indicating the corresponding species(es).
Carob flour obtained exclusively from Caldén or Vinal may be called: “Caldén flour” or “Vinal flour,” as appropriate.
– The product that has been roasted during its production must be called: “Toasted carob flour,” indicating the corresponding species(es).
– Toasted carob flour obtained exclusively from Caldén or Vinal may be called: “Toasted caldén flour” or “Toasted vinal flour,” as appropriate.

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Brazil – Lack of rigor in the monitoring of food supplements, say Senators

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The Committee on Science, Technology, Innovation and Information Technology and the Committee on Transparency, Governance and Consumer Protection discussed in a public hearing the growth in the consumption of dietary supplements in Brazil without proper sanitary control.
The debate was proposed (REQ 6/2025 – CCT and REQ 3/2025 – CTFC) by Senator Astronauta Marcos Pontes (PL-SP), who highlighted the urgency of clearer regulation and investments in laboratory equipment, such as liquid chromatographs, essential for product analysis.
The experts warned about the risk of unauthorized substances and highlighted loopholes in the importation of products. Senators defended more investments in the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA in Portuguese), such as the purchase of equipment to analyze the composition of supplements. Updates to legislation and mechanisms to improve oversight were also discussed.

For further information, consult the following sources in Portuguese: Link(1), Link(2)

DOC-REQ-62025—CCT-20250306Download

Brazil – ANVISA discloses results of analysis on supplements

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THE National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA in Portuguese) analyzed 41 creatine dietary supplements available in the Brazilian market. The products involve a total of 29 manufacturing companies. The evaluation was conducted in order to verify the regularity of these products in three specific aspects:

Creatine content;
Adequacy of labeling.
Presence of foreign matter.

For the analysis, a survey was carried out of the creatines most sold in the Brazilian market, in packages of 300 grams, which is the most common in the market. The sample collection was carried out in the second semester of 2024, in supplement manufacturing companies. Only in the state of Rio de Janeiro were samples collected by the State Health Surveillance (Visa) in the retail market. The other participating states were São Paulo, Santa Catarina, Paraná and Espírito Santo, following the market concentration in these states.

Creatinas_ Anvisa divulga resultados de análise em suplementos — Agência GovDownload

Dominican Republic – Ministry of Health extends deadline for submitting opinions on Food and Beverage Sanitary Regulations

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The Ministry of Public Health announces the extension of the public consultation period on the Food and Beverage Sanitary Regulations. he purpose of these regulations is to establish the sanitary conditions and regulations to which the following processes must conform: production, handling, import, export, processing, packaging, storage, distribution, transportation and sale of food for human consumption; to authorize the commercial establishment, in order to preserve the nutrition and health of the population; and to monitor compliance with these regulations, to ensure the supply of healthy and safe products, as well as their advertising.

Deadline for receipt of opinions: Thursday, May 15, 2025.

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Brazil – Bill proposed to require food labels to indicate alcohol content

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A bill currently before the Chamber of Deputies proposes to make mandatory the inclusion of information on alcohol content on food labels. Bill 447/25 covers all food products containing alcohol, regardless of whether its origin is by intentional addition or the result of fermentation processes.
The proposal aims to protect the health of vulnerable groups, such as children, adolescents, pregnant women and people who use medications that interact with alcohol.
The requirement that information on alcohol content be displayed in a visible place on the package seeks to ensure transparency and food safety.
Failure to comply with the rules set forth in the bill will subject offending companies to the penalties provided for in the Consumer Protection Code (CDC).