Food Labels
Canada ‘just waiting for the number’ against U.S. meat labels
Trade minister Chrystia Freeland says Canada is "just waiting for the number" from WTO for retaliatory tariffs it can impose against U.S. manufactured and agricultural exports in its seven-year dispute over meat-labeling rules.
Few routes left in Congress for GMO pre-emption
Time has run out in Congress for a standalone bill to pre-empt state laws that require labels on GMO foods, said Agri-Pulse, but the issue isn't dead even as Congress plans to adjourn within two weeks.
California court revives lawsuit over food sold as organic
FDA asks how to define “natural” on food labels
Beginning today, FDA will accept suggestions through Feb 10 on whether the government should define the word "natural" on food labels and if it does, what it should mean. FDA said it requested comment because of three petitions asking for it to define "natural" and a citizen petition saying it should ban the word from food labels.
WTO decision on meat labels is delayed
The WTO has pushed back the date for its decision on whether Canada and Mexico can impose sanctions on the United States because of its meat labeling rules, says the Canadian Cattlemen's Association in its newsletter.
Appellate hearing looms for Vermont GMO labeling law
Lawyers for the Grocery Manufacturers Association will make a last-ditch attempt on Thursday to prevent Vermont's first-in-the-name GMO food labeling law from taking effect. says Food Navigator. A federal district judge refused to issue an injunction so GMA will present arguments to the U.S. appeals court in New York City.
Senate hearing near on GMO-labeling legislation
The Senate Agriculture Committee is likely to set a date for a biotechnology hearing later this week, says a spokeswoman. It would be the first sign in months of movement in the chamber on legislation to pre-empt state laws on GMO food labeling and to keep labeling voluntary on the federal level.
Lack of support in Senate for GMO pre-emption bill
There is insufficient support in the Senate to pass a bill that would pre-empt state GMO food-labeling laws and keep labeling voluntary at the federal level, despite months of discussion and a landslide House vote for it. Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley, a Republican, told reporters that no Democrat was ready to co-sponsor such legislation: "That is the problem. That is the short answer and the long answer."
Obama selects FDA newcomer Califf as next commissioner
President Obama selected Robert Califf, a new arrival in FDA's senior ranks, to become the next commissioner of the agency that regulates products that account for 20 percent of consumer spending.
Intense efforts to sway Senate on GMO labeling
With committee action possible later this month, activists are amping up their efforts to sway Senate votes on GMO food labeling, says Carey Gillam of Reuters.
Both sides in GMO labeling fight seek advocates from academia
Both Monsanto, the giant seed company, or Stonyfield Farm, the organic yogurt company, "have aggressively recruited academic researchers" to carry their banner in the tussle over labeling foods made with genetically modified organisms, says the New York Times.
It’s the law: California olive oil is from California
Gov Jerry Brown signed a law to ensure that olive oil from California is labeled properly, said the Vacaville Reporter. If the label says California, all of the oil must come from olives grown in the state, says state Sen Lois Wolk, who sponsored the legislation.
GMO-labeling campaign deploys star power at Capitol
The GMO food-labeling campaign brought Hollywood star power to the Capitol as a counterweight to House passage of a bill to pre-empt state labeling laws.
U.S. says COOL costs Canada and Mexico only $91 million
Canada loses only $43.2 million and Mexico $47.6 million from the U.S. law that requires packages of beef and pork to say where the meat was born, raised and slaughtered.
Canada says U.S. senators are wrong about voluntary meat labeling
Canada's agriculture minister, Gerry Ritz, said two U.S. senators are wrong to say their proposal for a voluntary country-of-origin label (COOL) for beef, pork and chicken is similar to the "Product of Canada" label available in his country.
White House defers to FDA on GMO food-labeling petitions
The White House responded to two petitions for labeling of foods made with genetically modified organisms by deferring to the expertise of the FDA, which has been studying the question for more than two years.
Voluntary COOL bill “a risky strategy” – Canada cattle official
A Senate proposal to switch to a voluntary U.S. country-of-origin labeling (COOL) system for beef, pork and chicken is "a risky strategy" that would not satisfy free-trade rules, says a top official of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association.
House may pass bill against GMO labeling before end of July
The U.S. House could vote as early as next week on a bill to pre-empt states from requiring labels on food made with genetically modified organisms. And passage seems assured, backers said, after speedy committee approval of the legislation. The Agriculture Committee, a quarter of whose members are cosponsors of the bill, approved an updated version on a voice vote during a session that ran less than 20 minutes.