FDA, CDC identifies Amanita muscaria as a toxin in food
Amanita muscaria reportedly has been found in nootropic gummies, candy bars
Policy & legislation
FDA sets ‘achievable’ lead levels for baby food – but are they still too high?
The final guidance affirms previously proposed caps for lead in packaged baby and toddler food that public health advocates complained did not go far enough – spurring calls for state action
FDA recommends plant-based foods prominently state main ingredient
The draft guidance suggests brands communicate plant sources on packaging in the product name or statement of identity
California governor orders ‘crackdown’ on ultra-processed foods, dyes by April 1
The state’s most recent salvo signed on Friday calls for sweeping changes into how the safety of ultra-processed foods and ingredients, including GRAS status, are evaluated and proposes potential “warning labels” for ingredients state leaders deem a...
FDA outlines allergen labeling dos, don’ts
Improper food allergen labeling can hurt consumers’ health and cost CPG companies millions
USDA green lights Nutrition Hub network
The network aims to improve food access in marginalized communities
FDA issues final rule on ‘healthy’ claim, updates requirements
FDA changes “healthy” claim requirements based on current science
Animal protein leaders weigh in on DGA recommendations
Animal protein stakeholders responded to the Dietary Guidelines, affirming the need for more of the macronutrient in American diets
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
2025 sustainability trends: Food players ‘pump breaks’ on environmental goals
The Coca-Cola Co.’s recent decision to extend by five years its timeline to reach several voluntary environmental sustainability goals could portend a broader trend for food and beverage companies in 2025, according to one industry insider.
FDA’s new guidance on genome-edited plants offers simplified safety pathway
FDA’s updated guidance on genome-edited plants adds an additional layer of flexibility for industry stakeholders, while upholding the agency’s 1992 safety policy.
Unilever, Nestlé, EUDR, UPF and commodity hikes. FoodNavigator reviews 2024
Food and beverage was not short of drama or two in 2024, with some of the biggest stories gripping the sector almost from day one.
Kraft Heinz and Mondelēz International among companies targeted by UPF lawsuit
A US lawsuit alleges major food companies engineer UPFs to make them as addictive as possible to consumers, especially children.
Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee
Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee omits ultra-processed food guidance, pushes for health equity
Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee stops short on offering guidance for ultra-processed foods but for the first time calls on regulators to factor in race, culture and socioeconomic status in nutrition guidelines in its highly anticipated final report...
USDA orders mandatory raw milk testing for H5N1
A new federal order has been issue requiring nation-wide milk testing in a bid to tackle the bird flu outbreak in dairy cattle
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Mandatory front-of-pack nutrition labeling is coming – how should brands prepare?
FDA is under pressure to require standardized science-based, front-of-pack labeling to help consumers interpret nutrition information on food products – but what will the mandate mean for packaged food brands?
FDA safety evaluation of Red Dye 3 ‘forthcoming,’ agency official tells Senate
Post-market assessment of chemicals in food is a ‘huge priority’ for FDA’s recently created Human Foods Program, top agency officials told skeptical senators this week.
Trump’s trade, immigration policies could spell trouble for US dairy
The incoming president has threatened tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China: all key markets for US dairy
FDA extends comment period for proposed post-market food chemical review
FDA is extending the comment period for its proposed systematic process for post-market assessment of chemicals in foods, which it laid out in late September to mixed reviews from industry stakeholders who lauded its science-based and data-driven...
FDA calls for input on PFAS levels in seafood
FDA’s request this week for information on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in seafood is part of the agency’s investigation into the potential health impact of PFAS exposures, which may be higher in seafood according to sample data.
F&B trade groups on Trump: Organizations share concerns, optimism for next four years
Donald Trump’s electoral win as the 47th US President is already being felt across the food and beverage industry, as various trade groups and non-profits share their hopes for a collaborative next four years while other raise concerns about what the new...
Mood food for mental wellbeing – How can industry capitalize?
Navigating regulatory claims for mood foods & functional ingredients
Brands marketing foods and ingredients for mood management must navigate a complex regulatory landscape by understanding functional claims, relying on strong scientific evidence and staying informed on emerging trends to market their products effectively...
USDA funds $6m to boost healthy food access in underserved communities
USDA, in partnership with the Reinvestment Fund, has allocated nearly $6 million to improve access to nutritious foods in underserved communities across the country, reinforcing the trend toward healthy diets and potentially reshaping how brands and...
What can the food industry expect between the election, inauguration?
The transition period between when voters select a presidential candidate and when that person takes office “is almost certain to be a difficult time” for FDA and other government agencies, predicts Steven Grossman, executive director of the Alliance for...
FDA’s Human Foods 2025 goals: Microbiological safety, food chemical safety & nutrition
FDA’s fiscal year 2025 priority deliverables for the Human Foods Program emphasize transparency and accountability amid state funding cuts and resource constraints.
FDA limits phthalate ban to nine compounds
The FDA’s recent decision to remove 23 phthalates from food-contact uses while conducting safety assessments on remaining compounds has sparked both industry support for targeted regulation and advocacy calls for a total ban.
USDA wants more organic dairy in US schools: what this means for producers
A new promotional initiative will create business opportunities for small and mid-sized organic dairies.
Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee
How would eliminating ultra-processed foods and products high in sugar, fat impact diet, health?
Diets that exclude foods high in added sugar and saturated fat, like sugary drinks, snacks and processed meat, still provide sufficient levels of essential nutrients, like vitamins, minerals and fiber, according to the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee.
Dairy innovation and trends
Letter from the editor: Innovations, trends & startups reshaping the dairy category
The dairy case is no longer a limited selection of fat-free, low-fat or whole milk in generic white bottles or a bare-bones choice between just “orange” or “white” cheese – rather an explosion of innovation in recent years has dramatically multiplied...
Dietary Guidelines for Americans
DGAC recommends more repeated exposure to healthy foods for kids
The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) recommended introducing a variety of fruits, vegetables and grains at appropriate ages does not adversely impact growth or increase obesity risk in young children.
Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee
Nutrition experts reveal Healthy US-style dietary pattern – but is it flexible enough?
The 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) recommends consolidating various dietary patterns into a single, inclusive Healthy US-Style Dietary Pattern that includes nutrient-dense, plant-based foods and which is accessible for all Americans.
Food Traceability Rule compliance threatened by too much tech, over-eager retailers
Food industry players across the value chain are frustrated by lingering questions about how to implement sweeping food safety changes that go into effect in little over a year, including fears of some stakeholders “going berserk” with new technology or...
USDA, industry unite to deliver critical aid through emergency SNAP benefits for storm-hit communities
USDA’s emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) benefits are available for eligible households impacted by Tropical Storm Helene in parts of Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee, with industry associations collaborating to ensure...
Kabrita USA's goat milk infant formula expands in retail, backed by its own supply chain
Kabrita USA's vertically-integrated supply chain, managed by its parent company Ausnutria, helped the brand secure US regulatory recognition and retail expansion, Jacqueline Lipiec, general manager, Kabrita North America, told FoodNavigator-USA.
2024 US presidential election
How Trump's trade, tax policies could impact food industry
Donald Trump's election as the 47th US president signals a sea change in economic and trade policies from the Biden Administration, as the president-elect is expected to raise tariffs, which can kick start inflation again and complicate stressed supply...
Will alternative meats thrive in frozen? Circana shows growth
Meat alternative sales dropped in the last four years, but all is not lost for the segment which has opportunity to thrive in the frozen department with a particular focus on convenience, value, ingredient quality, diverse formats and new flavors,...
FDA pushes for progress in sodium reduction target, aims to cut average intake to 2,750 mg/day
The FDA's phase two draft guidance on sodium reduction, released on August 15, sets new voluntary targets for food manufacturers to reduce average consumption to 2,750 milligrams per day by 2024, as nearly three-quarters of Americans' sodium intake...
DGAC: Diets high in plant-based foods are moderately linked towards reducing illness
Although the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) did not find strong evidence between dietary patterns and disease risk, some age-related cognitive health issues and breast cancer are moderately linked to diet.
UPSIDE Foods & Institute for Justice gain support from industry trade group on Florida lawsuit
The Association of Meat, Poultry & Seafood Innovation (AMPS), a non-profit organization representing the cell-cultured industry, expressed its support for cultivated meat producer UPSIDE Foods and non-profit Institute for Justice on the lawsuit filed...
FDA’s Human Foods Program in effect, emphasizing modernized food safety, nutrition and transparency
As the single largest reorganization in FDA’s history, the agency’s unified and modernized Human Foods Program is in effect and will “zero in” on science-based measures towards food safety and public health, according to the agency’s leadership.
Top need-to-knows about cocoa ahead of the new season
A round-up of the cocoa sector as we move into the 2024/2025 season.
USDA grants $11.04m for dairy producers, businesses to ‘spur innovation’ across the country
USDA funding allocated for the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives is supporting small and mid-sized dairy businesses and providing a pathway for market expansion and diversification, as the industry adopts innovative technologies around milk production
Unsaturated vs saturated fats, Dietary Guidelines on dairy, meat & plant-based oils
The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) determined the relationships between saturated fat and cardiovascular disease (CVD) and the roles of dairy, red meat and plant-based oils with findings from last week’s meeting indicating benefits of...
California bans common food dyes in schools days after FDA, stakeholders discuss proposed systematic post-market review process for chemicals in foods
Manufacturers have just over three years to reformulate packaged snacks, confections and beverages with six common – and controversial – food dyes if they want to continue selling their products in California schools.
Texas district court greenlights plant-based labeling lawsuit
The United States District Court of the Western District of Texas will allow to proceed a lawsuit filed by the Animal Legal Defense Fund and the Good Food Institute on behalf of Tofurky that challenges a 2023 Texas law that imposes additional labeling...
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Does FDA’s proposed post-market assessment of chemicals in food fit the bill?
Food and beverage industry stakeholders and consumer advocates are lauding FDA’s commitment to enhance its post-market assessment of chemicals in food, but they worry the agency’s proposed process is “thin on details,” including lacking sufficient...
DGAC highlights nutritional disparities from latest dietary guidelines review
Removing animal-based and carbohydrate-containing products and other food groups can lead to significant nutrient deficiencies, according to the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC).
USDA concludes final round of funding to boost farmer support, lower grocery prices
The final installment of funding from the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP) is expected to give independent US farmers and ranchers in rural communities a competitive advantage and lower grocery costs, according to USDA.
Building a net zero, water secure future in food & beverage
Water stewardship rises amid scarcity concerns, consumer interest in conservation
Increasing water scarcity is prompting stakeholders across the food industry to rethink and reup their stewardship practices, and in doing so they not only are reinforcing supply chains and the health of the planet, but market research suggest they could...
Crisis timeline: How the cost of olive oil went from affordable to astronomical
Olive oil prices are spiralling out of control, leaving manufactures and consumers wondering how much higher they can possibly go. But how did the crisis start, where is it headed, and what’s next?
How climate change is impacting food commodities
How is the food and beverage industry responding to the need to make its supply chains more sustainable? Find out at Climate Smart Food 2024.