January 2025

Dear Christina,

Happy New Year and welcome to January's Label Alert! In this month's headlines, FDA releases its "Healthy" Final Rule, USDA and FDA issue a request for information on food date labeling, the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee's new report leaves out clear guidance on ultra-processed foods, and more ...

And this month, take advantage of $150 in Early Bird savings on PLC's 2025 Food Label Conference registration!

Now, get caught up on the latest industry news from Label Alert.

BREAKING NEWS: "Healthy" Final Rule Released by FDA

On December 19, the FDA announced the long-awaited “Healthy” Final Rule: Food Labeling: Nutrient Content Claims; Definition of Term “Healthy.” This rule finalizes a 2022 proposed rule and updates a prior definition of the voluntary claim that is 30 years old. 

Read on...

USDA-FDA Seek Information About Food Date Labeling, Aim is to Provide Further Clarity, Transparency and Cost Savings for U.S. Consumers

The USDA and FDA announced a joint Request for Information (RFI) about food date labeling, which includes the use of terms such as ‘Sell By,’ ‘Use By’ and ‘Best By.’ The RFI seeks information on industry practices and preferences for date labeling, research results on consumer perceptions of date labeling and any impact date labeling may have on food waste and grocery costs.

Read on ...

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 published on December 10.

Read on...

Scientists Identify Ultra-processed Foods that Fuel Colon Cancer and Healthy Alternatives that May Offset the Damage

A new study offers more evidence linking cancer to inflammation from diets high in processed foods. It found tumors were fueled by inflammatory compounds and a lack of compounds linked to healing. Researchers are looking to foods such as leafy greens and fish to pinpoint disease-fighting molecules.

Read on...

Food and Beverage Litigation and Regulatory Update

This litigation and regulatory update includes a consumer lawsuit against an ice cream producer for the lack of honeycomb in its "Honeycomb" ice cream, another suit claims the absence of fruit in Dunkin' Fruit Refreshers, and a third suit calls out the presence of preservatives in a cocktail mix labeled "no preservatives."

Read on ...