Misleading Labels – Nestlé and Others Irk FDA

• Date: March 08, 2010
• Source: admin

Overstating or misstating the nutritional value of baby food, nuts and other products have irked FDA so much so that it has issued warning letters against 17 who’s who(s) in the food making industry including Nestlé and others. Labeling on a food product helps its buyers to understand the nutritional content of the food in an easier and a quicker way. Therefore, misstating or overstating can result into a serious health problem for the buyers. Keeping in mind the importance of labeling, FDA has issued warning letters against companies which have made false claims on their food packages and websites over trans fat content, antioxidant advantages, and omega-3 benefits that fail to meet the Food and Drug Administration guidelines. Not only overstatement, but additionally, these companies have masked the presence of a few contents like unhealthy fats in their product.

A broad array of products, starting from Gerber baby food, Juicy Juice, Dreyer’s ice cream to  POM pomegranate juice and Gorton’s fish fillets have received warning letters from FDA.

F.D.A. commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg has taken an exemplifying stand for improving information for consumers on food packages. Reinforcing her commitment to develop a clear, science-based labeling system that is effective with consumers, Dr. Hamburg has planned to issue draft guidelines for nutritional labeling and is ready to work with the food industry on a new labeling system. In an open letter to the industry, she has mentioned that while Wednesday's warnings are not indicative of labeling practices in the entire food industry, they should "give food manufacturers further clarification about what is expected of them as they review their current labeling”.

To know names of companies that have received warning letters from FDA, go to the below given link:

http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/EnforcementActions/WarningLetters/default.htm#recent

Source:

http://news.yahoo.com/

www.nytimes.com/