No more sour grapes? The EU moves to make it harder to produce fraudulent wine.
Keller Heckman Blogs
Latest from Keller Heckman
FDA Appeals Order Rejecting GE Salmon Approval
The FDA is appealing a November 5, 2020 decision by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California which ordered the Agency to reconsider its 2015 approval of the genetically engineered (GE) AquAdvanage salmon.
In March 2016 a lawsuit was filed alleging that the FDA did not have jurisdiction to approve the GE salmon and, in the alternative, that the FDA unlawfully abused its authority by approving the GE salmon without appropriately considering…
FDA Update on Non-viral Hepatitis and “Real Water”
On April 16, 2021, the FDA issued an update on its investigation of an outbreak reported March 13, 2021 in Nevada of acute non-viral hepatitis of unknown cause, and associated with consumption of “Real Water” brand alkaline water. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which is also investigating the outbreak, acute non-viral hepatitis is inflammation of the liver from a cause other than a virus, such as drugs, alcohol, or toxins.
Thus…
Industry to Support Cannabis Testing Research
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), housed within the U.S. Department of Commerce, has partnered with industry to further its efforts for improved testing methodologies in cannabis as part of the Cannabis Quality Assurance Program (CannaQAP). CV Sciences, Inc., a hemp oil manufacturer, and Alkemist Labs, a botanicals testing laboratory, announced this week that they will assist NIST in initial sourcing and testing of hemp products to work towards improved analytical tools to…
The sesame seed scandal!
Congress Makes Sesame Ninth Major Food Allergen
On April 14, 2021, the House of Representatives passed H.R.1202 or the “Food Allergy Safety, Treatment, Education, and Research Act of 2021” (FASTER Act), which expands the definition of major food allergen for purposes of certain food-labeling requirements to specifically include sesame.
The FASTER Act declares sesame as the 9th major food allergen recognized by law in the United States, which means that food manufacturers will have to list sesame as an allergen on food…
FDA Responds to Inadvertent Presence of Two New Varieties of GE Canola Seeds
On April 13, the FDA published a constituent update advising companies about the inadvertent presence of low levels of certain genetically engineered canola seeds. The FDA was notified by BASF Agricultural Solutions (BASF) and Nuseed that low levels of genetic material from two new varieties of canola seed that are currently under review by the FDA have been found in specific lots of canola seed and a small number of canola fields. The two new…
New EU Transparency Regulation
Proposed Class Action Lawsuit Alleges Whole Foods Sparkling Water Deceptively Labeled
On April 11, 2021, a proposed class action lawsuit (Subscription to Law360 required) was filed against Whole Foods in the Southern District of New York alleging that the labeling of their “Lemon Raspberry Italian Sparking Mineral Water” was false and misleading because it contained only de minimis amounts of lemon and raspberry ingredient.
The product’s front label included images of lemons and raspberries and a flavor statement “With Organic Flavors,” while the ingredient list included…
New FDA Plan to Reduce Toxic Elements in Baby Food
On April 8, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) unveiled Closer to Zero, a new action plan for reducing exposure to toxic elements from foods eaten by babies and young children to as low as possible. The plan (announced here) describes FDA’s approach as an iterative process involving four stages: (1) Evaluate the science, (2) Propose action levels, (3) Consult with stakeholders, and (4) Finalize action levels for lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury. A graphic…