The Americas

Regulatory news in the Americas

Argentina – Senasa confirmed that there is no labeling for GM wheat flour

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Once the commercialization and the “mixture” with conventional flour is known, it remains to know which are the wheat by-products elaborated with transgenic. This information request was sent by ERA Verde to the National Agri-Food Health and Quality Service, which replied that “there are no regulations on labeling of GMOs in food, neither in Senasa nor in other agencies in Argentina”, it was stated.

Through the Press area, the General Coordinator of Biotechnology of the Directorate of Strategy and Risk Analysis, Andrés Ignacio Maggi, explained that “this is based on the fact that prior to the commercialization of any GMO for food, an evaluation is carried out in Senasa regarding its food suitability, so that they are considered as safe and not less nutritious than non-GMO products”.

The consumption of HB4 wheat flour, as that of any GMO food, for the time being, will remain an enigma in Argentina.

For further information, you can access the original source in Spanish

Peru – Bill prohibiting food advertising with octagons aimed at minors would go against freedom of enterprise

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For Jaime Dupuy, manager of legal and regulatory affairs of ComexPerú, any initiative in favor of taking care of the health of minors is positive. However, he warned that this regulation is unconstitutional, as it is disproportionate in that it prevents the transmission of advertising of all types of products with high sodium or fat content that should be consumed in moderation, such as milk or butter, when these cannot be considered junk food.

“Any provision that restricts advertising itself is an affectation to the freedom of enterprise, this principle considers all acts that help the commercialization of the products that the company develops. Advertising is included. Currently there are already restrictions due to health issues, for example for alcoholic beverages and cigarettes, but we cannot equate food in general, such as milk, butter or bread, with these products”, he explained.

For further information, you can access the original source in Spanish
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USA – Draft Guidance for Industry: Questions and Answers About Dietary Guidance Statements in Food Labeling

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This guidance provides questions and answers on the use of Dietary Guidance Statements on packaged food labels or in the labeling of conventional foods. It is intended to provide our current thinking on the use of Dietary Guidance Statements (i.e., statements relating a food or food group to a nutritious dietary pattern defined in greater detail in Q&A III.1) on packaged food labels and more broadly in the labeling of foods, including any written, printed, or graphic material accompanying a food, such as labeling on websites.

For further information, you can access the original source

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USA – FDA Works to Further Improve Nutrition, Reduce Diet-Related Chronic Disease with Dietary Guidance Statements on Food Labels

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today issued draft guidance that provides food manufacturers with recommendations on how and when to use Dietary Guidance Statements on the label of food products to ensure the label statements promote good nutrition, provide greater consistency in labeling, and assist consumers in making informed choices. This guidance is part of the FDA’s overall goal to help reduce the burden of chronic disease and advance health equity through improved nutrition. 

Today’s eating patterns in the U.S. do not align with current federal dietary recommendations, which focus on the entirety of the diet and how foods and beverages work together to affect health. Dietary Guidance Statements are statements in food labeling which are based on key recommendations from consensus reports, such as the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025, that discuss how a food or food group can be a part of a nutritious dietary pattern. The statements may include symbols or pictures that convey to consumers that a food or a food group may contribute to, or help maintain, a nutritious dietary pattern.

For further information, you can access the original source

USA – FDA Takes Additional Steps to Improve Nutrition, Reduce Disease with Expanded Use of Salt Substitutes to Help Lower Sodium Intake

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposed changes to the standards of identity (SOIs) for foods that include salt to permit the use of safe and suitable salt substitutes. The proposed rule would help support a healthier food supply by providing flexibility to facilitate industry innovation in the production of standardized foods to reduce sodium content, in the same manner that is already possible for non-standardized foods. This has the potential to contribute to better health outcomes by helping consumers to gradually reduce their sodium intake.

For further information, you can access the original source

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