June 2026

Welcome to June's Label Alert! In this month's headlines, a flesh-eating screwworm is found in a calf in Texas, a Kansas lawmaker introduces the Celiac Safety Act, California backs a non-UPF food label, and more.

And this month we're highlighting our upcoming USDA Labeling webinars! Take advantage of this comprehensive series to learn fundamentals, the latest trends and regulatory developments.

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

Flesh-eating New World Screwworm Detected in Texas Calf, USDA Says, Signaling Major Threat to Food Production

A case of flesh-eating New World screwworm has been detected in South Texas, the US Department of Agriculture said. It is the first time this parasitic fly – whose larvae feed exclusively on the tissue of warm-blooded animals – has been detected in US livestock in decades.

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Rep. Cleaver Introduces Celiac Safety Act to Strengthen Food Labeling Law

U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver II (D-MO) and Betty McCollum (D-MN) introduced the Celiac Safety Act. The legislation is meant to strengthen food labeling law and protect the roughly 3 million Americans with celiac disease. It’s the first proposal in Congress to require the FDA to mandate the inclusion of “gluten-containing grains” as a major food allergen. 

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California Pushes ‘Non-UPF’ Seal as Certifications Multiply and Confusion Grows

A proposed state-backed label aims to simplify ultra-processed food choices, but could competing definitions and private certifications risk muddying the message for consumers and complicate reformulation efforts?  

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FSIS Updates Food Standards and Labeling Policy Book

The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) released an updated edition of its Food Standards and Labeling Policy Book. Updates generally include clarifications to common names, ingredient minimums, and voluntary claims.

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USDA Announces Organizational Changes that Move Personnel Outside of DC Region

In a pair of announcements USDA indicated that it is making organizational changes to its Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and its Research, Education, and Economic (REE) mission area that would move many of its personnel outside of the Washington, DC region. 

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FDA Advances Post-Market Review of Phthalates Used in Food Contact Materials

The FDA released a scientific evaluation of the eight ortho-(o)-phthalates (“phthalates”) currently authorized as plasticizers for food contact use to determine if they should be grouped together for the purpose of a cumulative risk assessment. This work will inform the agency’s upcoming post-market safety assessment of the food contact uses of phthalates.

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