FDA Acknowledges Consumers Demand and Won’t Delay Menu Labeling

Last week, in a report by the Center for Food Safety, “the FDA announced that it will not change the May 2018 deadline for supermarkets, convenience stores, pizza chains, and other retailers that sell restaurant-type foods to display calorie information on their menus. In its decision, the FDA also stated that it will be issuing additional guidelines on menu labeling to clarify the rules for restaurants.” This is a win for public health advocates as the FDA upholds their obligation to give consumers access to calorie information at the point of decision-making.

Keep informed of these important food safety issues online here at the Center for Food Safety, meanwhile please share the information with your friends, family and coworkers. Make your voice heard here and join the movement for transparency and consumer protection. The FDA acknowledged the significant influence that the 130,00 Americans who submitted public comments had in making their decision.

Don’t forget that we’re fighting to protect menu labeling in Congress as well. If you haven’t already, please urge your representative to oppose anti-menu labeling legislation.

FDA Supports Trade Groups Against Public Health

“The Food and Drug Administration has filed court papers in support of an effort to overturn a New York City law requiring calorie counts to be posted by certain establishments — at least the second time the Trump administration has inserted itself into a local case.” – NY Times

In July, a group of trade organizations representing restaurants and convenience stores, filed the suit challenging the city law that “requires certain establishments to provide calorie counts and other nutritional information about menu items and other prepared food.” The plaintiffs are asking the judge to grant an injunction to keep the city from enforcing the law, which is effectively aimed at promoting healthier eating habits and to combat obesity. 

Scientists Try To Fight Crop Damage With the Diamondback Moth’s Own DNA, by NPR

“To curb the billions of dollars of damage caused by this lepidopteran’s larvae every year, scientists in New York are trying to turn the critter’s own DNA against it. In a small cabbage patch near the Seneca Lake town of Geneva, a Cornell University entomologist is letting loose thousands of genetically modified diamondbacks to test their ability to disrupt the moth-mating scene in farmers’ fields. Each moth, bred in a laboratory, carries a deadly gene designed to kill offspring that inherit it. The toxic gene offers a biological alternative to the chemical warfare farmers have been waging for decades.”

“The USDA, in issuing a permit for the field trial of the new moths, did require traps to check for stray insects. But these traps are not designed to contain the insects, only to monitor them.” Some scientists and environmental activists, including myself, are still skeptical of the potential hazards these GM Moths could have on our ecological systems and prefer to wait for full review. What happens when a spider or beetle eats one of these GM moths? We know that if we eat chicken that has been fed GMO feed, it’s like we ate that GMO feed. Wouldn’t it be the same for the moth?

“Revealing the Chip-makers and Cookie Factories in Disguise,” by Eater

As a private brand, the California-based Trader Joe’s orders most of its products from third-party manufacturers (including giants like PepsiCo. and Snyder’s-Lance), which agree to sell some of their items under the Trader Joe’s label. Read more here about the brands behind Trader Joe’s Snacks.

Black Lives Matter in the Food Movement Too, by Civil Eats

Check out this inspiring and informative article by Civil Eats which brought together “leaders of color in the food justice community for their thoughts about how they think the food movement might come together on the issues of race, equity, and access”.