FDA requests comments on use of the term “natural” on food labeling
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has extended the comment period for the use of the term “natural” on food labeling, by May 10, 2016, due to the complexity of this issue.
The FDA is taking this action in part because it received three citizen petitions asking the agency to define the term “natural” for use in food labeling and one citizen petition asking the agency to prohibit the term “natural” on food labels. FDA also notes that some Federal courts, as a result of litigation between private parties, have requested administrative determinations from the FDA regarding whether food products containing ingredients produced using genetic engineering or foods containing high fructose corn syrup may be labeled as “natural.”
Although the FDA has not engaged in rulemaking to establish a formal definition for the term “natural,” we do have a longstanding policy concerning the use of “natural” in human food labeling. The FDA has considered the term “natural” to mean that nothing artificial or synthetic (including all color additives regardless of source) has been included in, or has been added to, a food that would not normally be expected to be in that food. However, this policy was not intended to address food production methods, such as the use of pesticides, nor did it explicitly address food processing or manufacturing methods, such as thermal technologies, pasteurization, or irradiation. The FDA also did not consider whether the term “natural” should describe any nutritional or other health benefits.
The administration asks for information and public comment on questions such as:
- Whether it is appropriate to define the term “natural,”
- If so, how the agency should define “natural,” and
- How the agency should determine appropriate use of the term on food labels.
The FDA is accepting public comments beginning on November 12, 2015.
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