FSIS Announces Codex Electronic Working Group on Health Claims in Food Labeling, Etc.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service reports that a new Codex electronic working group (eWG) will be meeting to discuss proposed amendments to the nutrition and health claim guidelines. FSIS is also clarifying its earlier announcement regarding the Special Dietary Food eWG on cereal-based foods for underweight children.
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This eWG and clarification are as follows:
- Committee on Food Labeling (CCFL): Canada will chair an electronic working group to draft text for proposed amendments to the "Guidelines for the Use of Nutrition and Health Claims" specifically to (1) include non-addition claims for sugars and salt; (2) develop claims and conditions for use related to trans-fatty acids; (3) clarify that sodium would be captured in claims that would require a change of 25% in order to be made; and (4) consider additional conditions for three types of comparative claims related to (a) reducing the energy of nutrient content (e.g., "reduced" or "lower"); (b) "light" claims; and (c) having more of a nutrient (e.g., "more"). Codex Members and Observers eligible to participate should by September 19, provide the name, official title, affiliation, and email address of their representative to Charmaine Kuran at Nut.Labelling-Etiquetage@hc-sc.gc.ca with a copy to the Canada contact point at codex_canada@hc-sc.gc.ca. The final report of this eWG will be posted on the Codex website (www.codexalimentarius.net) with the CCFL agenda in advance of the next CCFL session.
- Clarification: The August 26 Codex News included an item about an eWG led by India to prepare a proposed draft amendment to the Standard for Processed Cereal-Based Foods for Infants and Young Children (CODEX74-1981) with a new Part B on underweight children. Codex members and observer organizations eligible to participate were to send their contact information to the Indian Codex Contact Point (ccnfsduindia@gmail.com) by August 31. Links to the final report of this eWG will be posted on the Codex website (www.codexalimentarius.net) with the CCNFSDU agenda in advance of the next CCNFSDU session. Other interested parties in the United States are invited to send comments on eWG final reports and on U.S. preliminary draft positions for CCNFSDU agenda items to the U.S. Delegate at: CCNFSDU@fda.hhs.gov. (See ITT's Online Archives or 08/30/11, 11083030, for earlier BP summary.)