Learn why FDA is requesting the public to say what’s the meaning of natural food. Check out the article we found over at NPR.org.
The Food and Drug Administration is seeking your input to answer a question: How should the agency define “natural” on food labels?
Disagreement over what “all natural” or “100 percent natural” means has spawned dozens of lawsuits. Consumers have challenged the naturalness of all kinds of food products.
For instance, can a product that contains high fructose corn syrup be labeled as natural? What about products that contain genetically modified ingredients?
The FDA has received three citizen petitions asking for clarification. And, beginning Thursday, the agency will ask us — the public — to weigh in. Comments can be submitted electronically.
The Food and Drug Administration is asking people to weigh in on a definition for the term “natural” on food labels. Will this process lead to a new rule — a codified, legal definition?
By requesting comments, the FDA is obligated to review them. So, [the agency] has certainly taken on a big project in simply announcing this. But it has not announced that it’s creating a new rule or definition.
The FDA says it has had a long-standing policy on this issue and has “considered the term ‘natural’ to mean … nothing artificial or synthetic (including all color additives regardless of source).” So why is there still confusion over what counts as “natural”?
This policy does not address a lot of these newer issues [such as GMO ingredients, or newer ways of processing foods].
If the FDA were to create a more strict, more comprehensive definition, it would give manufacturers a lot more guidance on whether or not they could use the term “natural” on their food products.
There are a lot of sides to this argument. And I think at the end of this process if the FDA does create a definition for “natural,” it’s going to be hard to satisfy everyone.
So, there’s a challenge here. This is not an easy task. If you were at the FDA, what would you do?
Next Article: Tips On How To Eat Organic Even On A Small Budget
Read full article: What’s ‘Natural’ Food? The Government Isn’t Sure And Wants Your Input
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