The Agriculture Marketing Service of the United States Department of Agriculture announced an agreement reached with Canada’s Food Inspection Agency that will provide U.S. organic dairy, beef, sheep, goat and bison producers with more streamlined access to the Canadian market. Canada now considers U.S. organic requirements for access to pasture and living conditions to be
USDA
New USDA Final Rule Raises Nutrition Quality Standards for Meals Served at School
On January 25, 2012, the Food Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) issued a final rule that substantially modifies the menu planning and nutrition requirements for the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program. The rule, which is intended to improve the dietary habits of school children in grades K-12…
USDA Publishes Two Proposed Rules Regarding Ingredients in Organic Food Products
Today the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) published two proposed regulations that will affect companies that produce and market organic food products. One proposed rule would clarify which vitamins and minerals are permitted for use in organic food and infant formula, while the other proposed rule would renew the status…
FSIS Delays Effective Date of New Meat Labeling Regulations
Responding to a letter from eight trade associations asking for more time to prepare for compliance, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), an agency within the Department of Agriculture, has decided to delay the effective date of final regulations requiring nutrition labeling for major cuts of single-ingredient raw meat and poultry from January 1…
Future Uncertain for USDA Proposed Rule to Revise School Lunch Nutrition Quality Standards
On November 18, 2011, President Obama signed into law H.R. 2112, the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 112-055), which, among other things, provides funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) for Fiscal Year 2012. The law includes policy “riders” blocking funding for key provisions of a rule proposed by USDA…
USDA’s FSIS Proposes Regulations to Launch New Catfish Safety and Inspection Program
Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture ("USDA") Food Safety and Inspection Service ("FSIS") issued a proposed rule that is intended to ensure that commercial catfish products are properly marked, labeled, and packaged, and are not adulterated. The rule implements recently enacted legislation which was advocated by U.S. catfish producers, and singles out domestic and…
USDA Proposal Would Require Meals Served at School to Meet More Stringent Nutrition Quality Standards
Last month, the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) issued a proposed rule that would revise the meal patterns and nutrition requirements for the National School Lunch Program (“NSLP”) and the School Breakfast Program (“SBP”). The proposed rule, which is intended to improve the dietary habits of school children, would…
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010
Written by Sarah Roller
On January 31, 2011 the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010. A copy of the executive summary is available here. Supporting documents include Questions and Answers on the 2010 Dietary Guidelines, a Backgrounder regarding…
8th Circuit Court of Appeals Rules False Advertising Allegations Regarding Organic Claims Are Not Preempted by Organic Foods Production Act of 1990
This post was written by Sarah Roller
The U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled that certain false advertising claims based on state consumer protection and anti-deception statutes were not preempted by the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (OFPA)— a federal Act that establishes national standards for the sale and labeling of organically…
The 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Calls for a Coordinated Strategic Plan and Evidence-Based Actions to Help All Americans Adopt Health-Promoting Behaviors and Bring an End to the Obesity Crisis
On June 15, 2010, the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee issued the “Report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010” (“Advisory Report” or “Report”). The Advisory Report is intended to provide the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) “with a strong…