FDA Bans Brominated Vegetable Oil In Soft Drinks And All Food And Beverages
Image Source: Natalia Campbell
As of August 2, brominated vegetable oil (BVO) is prohibited from all food and drink produced and sold in the US. BVO is most often used as a stabilizer in soft drinks to keep citrus flavor from separating and floating to the top. The FDA collaborated with the National Institutes of Health on a series of studies, found that BVO is linked to potential harm to the thyroid, liver, and heart, and concluded that the "intended use of BVO in food is no longer considered safe." In 2014, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola voluntarily agreed to remove BVO from Gatorade and other beverages, but about 600 food and beverage products still contain BVO, including the popular soft drinks Sun Drop and Orangette. According to the FDA, companies have one year to “reformulate, relabel and stop selling products that contain BVO.”
Supreme Court Rules Against New York City's Ban On Foie Gras
Image Source: Getty Images
In 2019, New York's City Council enacted a foie-gras ban, mostly intended to curtail the controversial practice of force-feeding ducks to enlarge their livers. The ban wound its way through the courts as the state's duck farmers lobbied against it and animal rights activists championed it. The ban was initially set to go into effect in November 2022, but litigation held it in court until last week, when the New York Supreme Court ruled against the ban, much to the chagrin of those who fought for it. NYC's restaurants can now continue to legally serve the delicacy. Score one for gourmands.
USDA Updates School Rules, Limits Sugars In Meals For First Time
Image Source: Audra Melton
According to a 2022 federal report, added sugars account for about 17% of calories in school breakfasts and 11% in school lunches. But federal dietary guidelines recommend that added sugars account for no more than 10% of daily calories. By the start of the next school year, the feds will require that high-sugar foods such as cereal, yogurt and flavored milk begin cutting back on sugar so that by the fall of 2027, added sugars in school meals meet the federal 10% limit. By that time, schools must also reduce sodium by 15% in lunches and by 10% in breakfasts. American schools provide breakfast to more than 15 million students and lunch to nearly 30 million students every day, so the USDA anticipates a significant positive impact on the health of our nation's youth.
Agriculture Department Proposes Higher Standards For Meat Labeled "Product of USA"
Image Source: Reuters/Andrew Kelly
In 2009, the USDA finalized labeling standards for meat that required country of origin labeling. Those standards allowed meat from animals born and raised abroad and only processed in the US to be labeled "Product of USA" and "Made in the USA." But most consumers believe the labels mean the product comes from animals born and raised in the US, according to a recent survey. So the agency has now, 14 years later, proposed changes to the rule. The US Cattlemen's Association cheered the changes, having lobbied for them for years, and arguing that the current rule disadvantages domestic producers and stifles competition. Truth in labeling. What a concept.
US Labor Department Fines Meatpacking Sanitation Company $1.5M For Underage Employees
Image Source: US Department of Labor
Labor Department officials found that Packers Sanitation Services, America's largest food sanitation services company, employed at least 102 children ranging from age 13 to 17 in hazardous occupations in meat processing facilities across eight states. The children were exposed to hazardous chemicals and cleaned meat processing equipment, including back saws, brisket saws and head splitters. At least three of the children suffered injuries on the job. Packers has agreed to pay more than $1.5 million in civil penalties. The Labor Department has also launched a widespread crackdown on child migrant labor in other industries.
US Food And Drug Administration Adds Sesame To Major Food Allergens List
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Sesame is the ninth most common US allergen. As of January 1, this ingredient is now subject to the same labeling and manufacturing requirements as milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soybeans. According to a 2019 study, about 1 in 200 Americans report having an allergy to sesame, and about 1 in 4 of those have experienced severe reactions. Look for "CONTAINS SESAME" coming to food labels near you.
