In prior commentaries, Iâve reported on GMO (genetically modified organisms) issues to keep you up to date. Now as 2022 approaches, the month of January will mark the start of another important step that you need to be aware of. Beginning January 1, food and beverage products containing genetically modified organisms will be required to contain a new bio-engineered label issued by USDA. The new USDA requirement, called the National Bio-Engineered Food Disclosure Standard, was promulgated in response to consumers requesting that GMO foods be labeled as such. While there are still controversies surrounding the new law, overall, the food industry supports the initiative.
The Consumer Brands Association based in Washington, DC, supports establishing a uniform regulatory framework for the disclosure of GMO. However, the term âbio -engineeredâ can still be confusing, said Hans Eisenbeis, director of marketing for the Non-GMO Project in Bellingham, WA, because it doesnât cover all GMOs, and the new labeling law lacks transparency, he said. My personal take: bio-engineered foods are essential for meeting the growing demand for feeding the world and while the new logo may make shoppers take a second look at the new label on products before putting them in a shopping cart, perhaps as the new label becomes more widely accepted, it will also become more of the normal messaging that confronts Mr. and Mrs. Consumer in the marketplace.
Final Guidance Issued For Salt Reduction
Late last month the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a final guidance for the âVoluntary Sodium Reduction Goals: Target Mean and Upper Bound Concentrations for Sodium in Commercially Processed, Packaged, and Prepared Foodsâ issue. The new guidelines provide voluntary short-term sodium reduction targets for food manufacturers, chain restaurants and food service operators for 163 categories of processed, packaged, and prepared foods. The guidance is another step the agency is taking to advance the Administrationâs whole-of-government approach to nutrition and health and improve future health outcomes. The targets aim to decrease average sodium intake from approximately 3,400 milligrams to 3,000 milligrams per day, about a 12 percent reduction, over the next 2.5 years. Note that the average intake would still be above USDAâs Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommended limit of 2,300 milligrams per day for those 14 and older. FDA said the reductions will substantially decrease diet-related diseases. All I can say is âwatch that saltshakerâ the next time you sit down at the table. Most likely you are adding salt to something that already contains salt.
New Efforts To Reduce Salmonella Announced
USDAâs Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced last month that it is mobilizing stronger, more comprehensive efforts to reduce salmonella illnesses associated with poultry products. While specifics were not announced by FSIS, the agency said it is initiating several key activities to gather the data and information needed to support future action and move closer to the national target of a 25 percent reduction in Salmonella illnesses. Moving forward, this initiative will require collaboration and ongoing dialogue with stakeholders â industry, consumer groups, and researchers alike said USDA.
As FSIS rolls out its new effort, a related item crossed my desk from Food Safety News which said that foodborne illnesses in the U.S. had decreased by 26 percent in 2020 compared with the average from 2017-19. The decrease could be related to the coronavirus pandemic in more than one way, according to researchersâ reports. The report did say, however, that as pandemic-related restrictions are lifted, illnesses caused by certain pathogens should be closely monitored. Thus, another reason for the FSIS battle against salmonella.
And in yet another related USDA announcement, the agency has appointed several new members of the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods, a strategic outside advisory group to assist the government on food safety issues. The committee will be meeting later this month to address salmonella as well as Cyclospora contamination.
Strengthening Americaâs Food Supply Chain
As part of the Biden administrationâs efforts to address food systems challenges arising from the pandemic, as well as other challenges going back decades, USDA has announced that the agency has plans for leveraging another $100 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. The funding will be distributed via lending through community and private sector lenders to expand meat and poultry processing capacity and finance other food support chain infrastructure. These investments will help deliver more opportunities and fairer prices for farmers and address bottlenecks in the food supply chain exacerbated by the pandemic.
The new round of funding from the American Rescue Plan Act will help to start-up or expand entities in the food supply chain that aggregates, processes, manufacturers, wholesale or distributes food. USDA is now preparing to issue a notice soon to announce eligibility requirements and the application window. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
And The New FDA Head IsâŠ.?
Strong rumors around Capitol Hill from our fellow lobbyists point to the news that the Biden administration is about to name Dr. Robert Califf, MD, as the new FDA commissioner. If his name is familiar, it is because he had a lot of prior experience at the agency during the Obama years. Dr. Califf led the agency from early 2016 to the end of the Obama administration. Hopefully this appointment will sail through the Congressional approval process. We at Policy Solutions have not heard a bad word about the candidate.
E-Cigarettes Authorized
When electronic cigarettes first appeared on the market, there was a lot of hype for and against the new smokes. Then the flavored variety joined the marketplace. Vaping then became the âinâ thing! Then you know what hit the fan as proponents and opponents put on their battle armor to debate vaping. Well, it took almost ten years, but the FDA last month authorized the devices, saying that vaping devices helped tobacco smokers curtail their dependency on conventional cigarettes. The approval is only for R.J. Reynoldsâ Vuseâs Solo e-cigarette and its tobacco-flavored nicotine cartridges. Other applications are pending from other manufacturers, of which there are many. FDA will be treading very lightly before approving other e-cigarette devices.
Coffee âGrownâ In A Lab, And Ice Cream, Too
What if you could produce coffee in a lab using fewer resources and without the need for land? Researchers at a firm called VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland have done just that using cellular agriculture. I guess it was only a matter of time since we already have lab-grown meat and poultry products sprouting up in laboratories. Still, there are multiple hurdles to overcome before cellular coffee hits local grocery stores, according to the publication Organic News. But producing coffee using fewer resources and with no need for land? Wow, that is something to watch! And not to be outdone, Perfect Day Foods, a Berkeley, CA-based start-up, has developed a method to create an ice cream product that samplers declare is as creamy, tasty, and satisfying as real ice cream. Now arenât both breakthroughs really intriguing. Science is truly amazing!
U.S. Commits $10 Billion At UN Food Summit
The White House pledged $10 billion in multi-year initiatives to tackle food security and nutrition and accelerate climate change mitigation at last monthâs United Nations Food Systems Summit.
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack pledged to work with domestic and international partners to build more sustainable, equitable and resilient food systems at home and abroad. The summit drew attention to the ongoing threats of the COVID-19 conflict, and climate change that has increased poverty, hunger and malnutritional across the globe. Of the $10 billion in planned U.S. investments highlighted during the UN summit, $5 billion will be earmarked to strengthen food systems in the U.S., including through investments to ensure access to healthy diets and fair and efficient markets.
Barry Scher is associated with the public policy firm of Policy-Solutions LLC and may be reached at [email protected].
