On Nov. 19 the Food and Drug Administration posted new and revised versions of the following Import Alerts on the detention without physical examination of:

The Food and Drug Administration issued its weekly Enforcement Report for Nov. 18 that lists the status of recalls and field corrections for food, drugs, biologics, and devices (here). The report covers both domestic and foreign firms.

On Nov. 18 the Food and Drug Administration posted new and revised versions of the following Import Alerts on the detention without physical examination of:

The Food and Drug Administration will revoke its standards of identity for artificially sweetened jelly, preserves and jam, it said in a final rule (here). The move will allow jelly, jam and preserves containing saccharin, sodium saccharin, and calcium saccharin to bear nutrient content claims like “low calorie” and “reduced sugar.” Previously, such products could only be labeled as “artificially sweetened” under these standards of identity. The final rule takes effect Nov. 20.

On Nov. 17 the Food and Drug Administration posted new and revised versions of the following Import Alerts on the detention without physical examination of:

The Food and Drug Administration is proposing new requirements for manufacturers of hydrolyzed and fermented foods bearing “gluten-free” claims. Prompted by the difficulty of testing such foods for gluten, FDA’s proposed rule would require manufacturers keep records that prove their hydrolyzed and fermented foods labeled “gluten-free” comply with the 20 ppm threshold set by the agency in a 2013 final rule (see 13080213), by showing the food or any ingredient is below the limit before fermentation or hydrolysis occurs. Records would also need to show measures to prevent gluten cross-contact. Comments on the proposed rule are due Feb. 16.

On Nov. 16 the Food and Drug Administration posted new and revised versions of the following Import Alerts on the detention without physical examination of:

On Nov. 12-13 the Food and Drug Administration posted new and revised versions of the following Import Alerts on the detention without physical examination of:

On Nov. 10 the Food and Drug Administration posted new and revised versions of the following Import Alerts on the detention without physical examination of:

The Food and Drug Administration is once again considering whether to adopt a regulatory definition for “natural” food, and is accepting comments on the issue until Feb. 10, it said (here). The agency last considered a definition in the 1990s, before eventually adopting a policy not to restrict use of the term “except for added color, synthetic substances, and flavors,” it said (here). After receiving several petitions from several companies, industry associations and consumer advocacy groups, including one that asked for the term to be prohibited on labeling altogether, FDA will once again open the discussion.