Weekly Newsletter | June 29, 2023 |
Food & Nutrition
FDA Releases Update on Restructuring of Human Foods Program
FDA released an update on its proposal to restructure the FDA Human Foods Program (HFP), announcing a new model for the Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) based on recommendations from the agency’s working group and the external evaluation conducted by the Reagan-Udall Foundation. In this most recent update, FDA published its proposed ORA and HFP organization charts that reflect the agency’s proposed restructuring changes. Among the proposed changes, FDA announced that the new Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods will have oversight of all budget and resource allocations for the entire HFP, including ORA resources, and began its recruitment efforts to fill the position of Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs who will lead ORA through these proposed changes. FDA is seeking to finalize its reorganization proposal of both ORA and the unified HFP this fall.
FDA Extends Comment Period for Petition to Ban Titanium Dioxide in Foods
FDA extended the comment period for the color additive petition filed by Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) requesting that FDA repeal the color additive regulation to no longer provide for the use of titanium dioxide in foods. The comment period is extended by an additional 60 days until September 1, 2023. Titanium dioxide, known as E171, is commonly added to provide a bright white color to food products, including coffee creamers, baked goods, chewing gums, hard-shell candies, puddings, frostings, dressings, and sauces. Titanium dioxide is among the five food additives the California and New York State legislatures are proposing to ban from the state's food supply.
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Food Safety
FDA Publishes New Food Traceability Final Rule FAQs and Additional Tools
FDA published new frequently asked questions (FAQs) and additional tools to provide industry with more information about the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) final rule, Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods. The updated 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 through the Technical Assistance Network. In addition to the FAQs, FDA published additional tools, including additional results and definitions, fact sheets, and guides, developed to help educate and inform industry subject to the final rule. The compliance date for the rule’s recordkeeping requirements is January 20, 2026.
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Agriculture
USDA Invests to Support School Meal Programs and Emergency Food Operations
USDA announced an investment of $2.7 billion to support farmers, students who participate in school meal programs, and emergency food operations. This investment will provide $1.3 billion for states to purchase foods to be distributed to school meal programs and an additional $1 billion for states to order commodities from U.S. farmers to support the emergency food network, including food banks, food pantries, and community kitchens. These investments are part of USDA’s broader efforts to increase food accessibility and address food insecurity in the U.S.
USDA Invests to Strengthen Meat and Poultry Food Supply Chain
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Global
WHO to Launch Guideline on Impact of Food Marketing for Children
The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Department of Nutrition and Food Safety is hosting an event to launch its new guideline on ‘Policies to protect children from the harmful impact of food marketing’ on July 3, 2023. The guideline will provide countries with recommendations on measures to restrict food marketing to children, including policy design elements to improve the measures’ effectiveness. Globally, food marketing targeted to children can occur in various settings and media platforms, promoting predominantly less healthy food options through appealing marketing strategies. WHO launched a public consultation for its draft guideline in June 2022.
UNICEF Publishes Guidance of Engagement with Food Industry
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) published the program guidance, Engaging with the Food and Beverage Industry. This guidance outlines UNICEF’s intent of engagement with the food and beverage (F&B) industry, identifying 10 parameters of engagement to reflect the principles and strategic considerations across all UNICEF programs. In the guidance, UNICEF outlines its intent to avoid all partnerships with ultra-processed food and beverage (UPF) industries, including UNICEF’s intent to not include UPF industries in UNICEF-led business platforms. UNICEF cautions against these UPF partnerships and emphasizes the risks associated with direct funding engagements to the credibility of UNICEF programming. UNICEF states that it will continue to engage with selected F&B industries and retailers to help improve children’s food environments and diets.
Fun Fact: The term "brain freeze" is scientifically known as sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia.
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