Weekly Newsletter | April 6, 2023
Food & Nutrition

California and New York Introduce Bills to Ban Five Food Additives
The California and New York State legislatures have both recently introduced bills that would prohibit the manufacture, sale, and distribution of food products that contain brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, red dye 3, and titanium dioxide. The California bill and the New York bill are the first in the U.S. to propose banning these five additives from the food supply. The California Assembly's Health Committee is set to hold a hearing on the bill on April 11, 2023.

CSPI Files Petition Requesting FDA Finalize Sodium Reduction Goals
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) filed a petition requesting that the FDA issue a final guidance identifying the agency's 10-year voluntary sodium-reduction goals. In the petition, CSPI calls on the agency to establish an intermediate voluntary sodium reduction goal between the 2.5- and 10-year targets by April 2025, publish a plan detailing how industry compliance will be monitored and evaluated, and create a public database of brand-name products that represent the largest contributors to sodium exposure. 

Study Finds EAT-Lancet Diet to be Nutritionally Inadequate
A study published by The Lancet Planetary Health suggests that the EAT-Lancet planetary health diet does not provide enough essential vitamins and minerals, including iron, zinc, calcium, and vitamin B12. The findings highlight the need for increasing the proportion of animal sourced foods to compensate for these micronutrient deficiencies. The researchers recommend increasing quantities of fish, shellfish, seeds, eggs, and beef to achieve nutrient adequacy in the EAT-Lancet planetary health diet.
Food Safety

FAO and WHO Publish Food Safety Report on Cell-Based Food
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) published a report that examines the food safety considerations of cell-based food products. The report analyzes the technologies used to produce cell-based foods, identifies potential food safety hazards, and explores regulatory frameworks for cell-based food production in different countries and jurisdictions. 

FAO Releases Strategic Priorities For Food Safety 
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) published its Strategic Priorities for Food Safety 2022-2031. The strategic priorities are based on an agrifood systems approach, organized into four strategic outcomes focused on governance, scientific advice, strengthening national food control systems, and fostering public–private partnerships along the food chain. The strategic priorities were developed to support the implementation of the FAO’s Strategic Framework for 2022-2031 and its strategic actions will help contribute to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

USDA Appoints NACMPI Committee Members
The USDA announced the appointment of 15 new members and five returning members to the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI). The newly appointed and returning NACMPI members will serve a two-year term and provide advice and recommendations on food safety concerns and food safety policies to help contribute to USDA’s regulatory policy development aimed at reducing foodborne disease and enhancing public health.
Agriculture

Senators Urge USDA to Address Animal-Raising Claims
Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) sent a letter to USDA expressing concern about the agency’s standards for evaluating animal-raising claims, including terms such as “humanely raised” and “sustainably farmed.” In the letter, the senators referenced an Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) report suggesting that 85% of animal welfare claims on meat and poultry products lacked adequate substantiation. They are requesting that USDA further clarify their animal-raising claim evaluation process.
Global

UK Opens Public Consultation for Use of Precautionary Allergen Labeling
The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) launched a public consultation to update the agency’s Allergen Labeling Technical Guidance. The FSA is seeking feedback from stakeholders on how and when to apply precautionary allergen labeling (PAL), commonly known as “may contain” warnings on food packaging. The proposed guidance suggests that the industry should indicate the specific major allergen(s) that their PAL refers to, such as "may contain peanuts" or "may contain tree nuts," instead of using the generic "may contain nuts." The FSA plans to publish the revised guidance this summer.

Italy Proposes Ban on Laboratory Produced Meat Products 
The Italian Parliament proposed a bill that would prohibit the use of laboratory-produced food and animal feed, including all synthetic foods produced from animal cells. If passed, the bill would prohibit the industry from producing food or feed from cell cultures or tissues derived from animals. Currently, Singapore remains the first and only country to approve the sale of laboratory-produced meat products. 

EU Calls for Food Additive Occurrence Data in Food and Beverages
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) announced an open call for food additive occurrence data in food and beverages. The EFSA is seeking this data to re-evaluate the safety of food additives in light of changing conditions of use and new scientific information. The EFSA is calling for national food authorities, research institutions, academia, food business operators, and other stakeholders to submit analytical data on food additives by June 30, 2023. This call for data will be launched annually.

Fun Fact: In the 1700s, pineapples were a symbol of wealth and prosperity.