Labeling Laws Research Articles

"Ley Semaforo" (Stop Sign Law): Chile's labeling law for packaged food products "high in..."

"Ley Semaforo" (Stop Sign Law): Chile's labeling law for packaged food products "high in..."

Advocacy coalitions involved in California's menu labeling policy debate: Exploring coalition structure, policy beliefs, resources, and strategies

Advocacy coalitions often play an important role in the state health policymaking process, yet little is known about their structure, composition, and behavior. In 2008, California became the first state to enact a menu labeling law. Using the advocacy coalition framework, we examine different facets of the coalitions involved in California's menu labeling policy debate. We use a qualitative research approach to identify coalition members and explore their expressed beliefs and policy arguments, resources, and strategies by analyzing legislative documents (n = 87) and newspaper articles (n = 78) produced between 1999 and 2009. Between 2003 and 2008, six menu labeling bills were introduced in the state's legislature. We found the issue received increasing media attention during this period. We identified two advocacy coalitions involved in the debate—a public health (PH) coalition and an industry coalition. State organizations acted as coalition leaders and participated for a longer duration than elected officials. The structure and composition of each coalition varied. PH coalition leadership and membership notably increased compared to the industry coalition. The PH coalition, led by nonprofit PH and health organizations, promoted a clear and consistent message around informed decision making. The industry coalition, led by a state restaurant association, responded with cost and implementation arguments. Each coalition used various resources and strategies to advance desired outcomes. PH coalition leaders were particularly effective at using resources and employing advocacy strategies, which included engaging state legislators as coalition members, using public opinion polls and information, and leveraging media resources to garner support. Policy precedence and a local policy push emerged as important policymaking strategies. Areas for future research on the state health policymaking process are discussed.

USDA relaxes guidelines for non-GMO food labels

Manufacturers are now allowed to use the terms “genetically modified organism” or “GMO” on U.S. food labels to make claims that genetically engineered ingredients are not present in a meat, poultry, or egg product. Previously, use of the terms was only allowed on these so-called negative claims if they were part of the name of a third-party certifier, such as the Non-GMO Project. USDA’s Food Safety & Inspection Service released the new guidelines on Aug. 19, providing examples of labels that are acceptable for products that don’t contain GMOs or livestock that were not fed GMO ingredients. The action was prompted by a GMO food labeling law enacted in July. The law requires USDA to develop a national GMO labeling standard and rules for non-GMO food labeling. USDA relies on third-party certification organizations to verify that products do not contain GMOs. The new guidelines clarify that organic certification is sufficient

Calorie Labeling in Chain Restaurants and Body Weight: Evidence from New York.

This study analyzes the impact of local mandatory calorie labeling laws implemented by New York jurisdictions on body weight. The analysis indicates that on average the point-of-purchase provision of calorie information on chain restaurant menus reduced body mass index (BMI) by 1.5% and lowered the risk of obesity by 12%. Quantile regression results indicate that calorie labeling has similar impacts across the BMI distribution. An analysis of heterogeneity suggests that calorie labeling has a larger impact on the body weight of lower income individuals, especially lower income minorities. The estimated impacts of calorie labeling on physical activity, smoking, and the consumption of alcoholic beverages, fruits, and vegetables are small in magnitude, which suggests that other margins of adjustment drive the body-weight impacts estimated here. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

College Students' Intentions to Use Calorie Information on a Restaurant Menu: Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior

Background: Obesity continues to be an epidemic in the United States and is associated with multiple chronic diseases. Greater numbers of people eat in restaurants and select high calorie foods. Labeling laws require calorie information on menus in some restaurants. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the predictors of intention to use calorie labels among college students using constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Methods: College students selected a meal from a menu without calories and from the same menu with calorie information, and completed a survey that addressed TPB constructs. Regression analysis was used to determine predictors of intention to use labels and calorie changes of meals ordered. Results: Students (n = 100) ordered significantly fewer calories with posted calorie information. Intention was significantly correlated with attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. Discussion: The TPB may help explain factors involved in the intention to use posted calorie information on a restaurant menu. Results support the inclusion of the calorie statements on these menus. Translation to Health Education Practice: Education efforts should include constructs of the TPB. When planning, implementing and evaluating programs, utilizing strategies to influence attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control is suggested.

Development of raw materials for green tire

With the development of automobile industry, the production amount of China tires has been on the top of the world. But there is still a big gap compared with the developed tire manufactures. The market share of high-end tires is almost completely occupied by foreign manufacturers. With the implement of technical regulation for energy-saving and safety tires of Europe and America tire manufacturers and the legislation of tire labelling law, the most important performance of tires such as rolling resistance, wet-skip resistance and noise are strictly rated, which will be labelled on the surface of tire and will be taken as a guide for tire buyer and technical threshold for domestic tire manufacturers for tire export.

Do Menu Labeling Laws Translate into Results? Impacts on Population Obesity and Diabetes

We separately use the difference-in-differences technique and the synthetic control method on county-level data to test the impact of mandatory menu labeling laws on obesity and diabetes rates. Results show a decline in the growth of obesity rates following passage of the law at the state level in California and for six counties on the East Coast. We identify no significant impact to diabetes rates.

Legal Limits on Food Labelling Law: Comparative Analysis of the EU and the USA

The objective of this study is to explore to what extent freedom of expression should protect food businesses against government intervention with corporate communications on food labels. A functional comparative method was used to analyse the objective. It was found that expression on food labels should be considered primarily commercial in nature. In the USA some food labelling regulations are considered inconsistent with the freedom of commercial expression. EU courts seem to uphold government restrictions to commercial expression in all cases, especially when restrictions are based on protection of human health. It can be concluded that food businesses should only be able to claim free speech rights on food labels when it is of importance to the public or consumers.

Navigating Through a Complex and Inconsistent Regulatory Framework: Section 503B of the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act Outsourcing Facilities Engaged in Clinical Investigation.

The integrity of unbiased clinical data is essential to the future of the health care system by facilitating the discovery of lifesaving medicines and ensuring investigational drugs are safe and effective. Since 2002, the US pharmaceutical industry has invested over $500 billion, which is the largest research and development investment of any sector of the US economy. As a consequence of this significant investment, pharmacy compounders and other stakeholders must be acutely aware of the consequences of noncompliance. Pharmacy compounders are required to navigate through a complex and ever-changing regulatory landscape governed by US federal and state authorities competing for oversight and enforcement authority. In particular, pharmacy compounders participating in clinical investigation are faced with inconsistent federal and state drug labeling regulations, which can lead to enforcement for violating acceptable standards for clinical investigation and informed consent. As FDA registrants, Outsourcing Facilities are able to produce large volumes of clinical supplies without the need for prescriptions for individually named patients. Some states, however, may have prescription drug labeling laws that could thwart the ability to provide these clinical supplies. Accordingly, researchers should be aware of the implications of federal and state laws, including any inconsistencies, prior to engaging in clinical investigation.

Hidden exogenous proteins in wine: problems, methods of detection and related legislation - a review

Fining agents are commonly used in the winemaking process to clarify and stabilise wines. They have different origins (animal, vegetal or mineral) and are added to wines in order to remove specifically undesirable compounds that are discarded. Fining agents should not be present in the final product but their possible persistence, as well as other exogenous residual proteins such as the enzymes utilised in winemaking, cannot be excluded for sure. The principal concern about the presence of exogenous residual proteins is the health of allergic subjects. Nevertheless, the respect of religious creed or other practice of living of the consumer must be considered as well. In the present review we itemise the proteins used in winemaking and possible drawbacks of their permanence in the final products and the related risks, depict the status of the art of the studies performed about the detection of exogenous proteins, and describe the wine labelling laws adopted in different countries to avoid the drawbacks associated with these hidden substances.

DETERMINATION OF SODIUM GLUTAMATE BY THIN LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY METHOD WITH FLUORESCENT DETECTION

The spectral and luminescent properties of Tb(III) complex with ciprofloxacin and monosodium glutamate (MSG) were studied. The stoichiometric composition of complex (Tb(III) : ciprofloxacin : MSG = 1:2:1) was determined by the Bent-French method. Its spectral and luminescent characteristics in the phase of sorbent (the maximum wavelength of the luminescence and luminescence excitation, the lifetime of luminescence) were defined. It was established that effective energy transfer takes place from the ligand excited state to lanthanide ion in Tb(III) – ciprofloxacin – MSG complex resulting in intensive sensitized luminescence. The optimal conditions of chromatographic separation of monosodium glutamate (stationary and mobile phase, the sample volume applied to the plate, the optimal concentration of a luminescent detection reagent (Tb(III), ciprofloxacin, MSG) were selected. The maximal luminescence intensity was occurred at 1·10–3 mol/L Tb (III) in neutral solutions at pН 6,5 – 7,5. The maximal luminescence intensity of Tb(III) – ciprofloxacin – MSG complex was observed at 2.10-3 mol/L ciprofloxacin and at 1·10–3 mol/L MSG. A thin layer chromatography method for determining of monosodium glutamate in dried squids with using Tb (III) – ciprofloxacin as a fluorescent detection reagent has been proposed. Sodium glutamate was found in all commercial samples of dried squid. This means that some manufacturers do not indicate the presence of this food additive on the label of the products in the ingredient list in any packaged food in contrast of food labeling law.

Why U.S. Consumers Support Country of Origin Labeling: Examining the Impact of Ethnocentrism and Food Safety

ABSTRACTThe legality of U.S. country of origin labeling (COOL) laws for agricultural products has been challenged by foreign countries. Isolating the reasons why consumers support COOL can help determine the efficiency of COOL as a policy. Therefore, this study investigated why consumers have a desire for COOL. Data were collected through an online survey with 566 U.S. participants. Results of a bivariate ordered probit model indicate that as consumers are more ethnocentric and more pessimistic about the safety of their food, they are more likely to support COOL for sugar and for sugar in soft drinks. Thus, policies designed to inform the public about the safety of foreign commodities could reduce their desire for COOL. Evidence is also provided that highly ethnocentric individuals support COOL in an effort to “buy American” products.

Electronic Cigarette Refill Liquids: Child-Resistant Packaging, Nicotine Content, and Sales to Minors

To determine the accuracy of the labeled quantity of the nicotine content of the e-liquids sold in unlicensed vape stores, whether the packaging of e-liquids sold within the vape stores was child-resistant, whether minors were present within vape stores, and whether sales to minors occurred. This study was conducted across North Dakota prior to implementation of a new e-cigarette state law and provided a baseline assessment before enactment of the new legal requirements. We tested samples of e-liquids and performed observations in 16 stores that were selling e-cigarettes but were not legally required to be licensed for tobacco retail. The e-liquids were analyzed for nicotine content using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography method for nicotine analysis. Of the 70 collected e-liquid samples that claimed to contain nicotine, 17% contained more than the labeled quantity and 34% contained less than the labeled quantity by 10% or more, with one sample containing 172% more than the labeled quantity. Of the 94 e-liquid containers sampled, only 35% were determined to be child-resistant. Minors were present in stores, although no sales to minors occurred. Mislabeling of nicotine in e-liquids is common and exposes the user to the harmful effects of nicotine. The lack of child-resistant packaging for this potentially toxic substance is a serious public health problem. E-cigarettes should be included in the legal definition of tobacco products, child-resistant packaging and nicotine labeling laws should be enacted and strictly enforced, and vape stores should be licensed by states.

Autonomy, Values, and Food Choice

In most areas of our lives, legal protections are in place to ensure that we have autonomous control over what happens in and to our bodies. However, there are fewer protections in place for autonomous choice when it comes to the food we purchase and consume. In fact, the current trend in US legislation is pushing us away from autonomous food choice. In this paper, I discuss two examples of this trend: corporate resistance to GM labeling laws and farm protection laws (often called “ag-gag” laws). These examples are quite different from a legislative point of view. In one case, laws that would promote autonomous choice are actively resisted, whereas in the other case, laws that undermine autonomy are enacted. The common core of the two examples is the effect: in both cases, we are unable to determine whether the food we purchase and consume is consistent with our values. In both cases, then, autonomous choice about the food we purchase and put into our bodies is undermined.

GMO food labeling bill stalls in the Senate

Legislation that would block states from requiring labels on genetically modified (GMO) foods faltered in the Senate last week. The measure, which was offered as an amendment to an unrelated bill (S. 764), would prohibit states from requiring labels on GMO foods and establish a federal voluntary labeling standard. In a 48-49 vote, the bill failed to garner enough support for the Senate to move it forward. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) left open the possibility of holding a vote on the GMO food labeling legislation at a later date. Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), who introduced the legislation, and supporters of his proposal, including the food industry, are anxious to get the measure enacted before a law requiring labels on GMO foods goes into effect in Vermont on July 1. Other states are also planning similar laws. The food industry claims that a patchwork of state labeling laws will

Rapid methodology to screen flame retardants in upholstered furniture for compliance with new California labeling law (SB 1019)

In response to concerns regarding the widespread use of flame retardants, the California Legislature passed a law (SB1019) requiring labels on furniture products to indicate whether they do or do not contain flame retardants. To support the enforcement of the new law, our laboratory developed a step-wise, screening approach to test for brominated (BFR) and phosphorus-based flame retardants (OPFRs) in several types of furniture components (foam, fabric, batting, plumage, etc.). We used X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) to screen for the presence of Br (and other elements) and Inductively Coupled Plasma – Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) to identify and measure the concentration of P (and other elements). The same samples were also extracted by dichloromethane using sonication and analyzed by a single injection into a Gas Chromatograph – Tandem Mass Spectrometer to obtain concentrations of specific BFRs and OPFRs. Our approach showed excellent screening potential for Br and Sb by XRF and for P by ICP-OES, with both tests having predictive values of a negative equal to 1. To explore and screen for flame retardants in products not included in our current list of target chemicals, we used Liquid Chromatography/Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry operated with electrospray ionization, to identify additional flame retardants to be incorporated in quantitative methods. We are making all our methodologies public to facilitate simple and low cost methods that can help manufacturers and suppliers have their products tested and correctly labeled, ultimately benefitting the consumer.

Restaurant Menu Labeling Policy: Review of Evidence and Controversies.

In response to high rates of obesity in the USA, several American cities, counties, and states have passed laws requiring restaurant chains to post labels identifying the energy content of items on menus, and nationwide implementation of menu labeling is expected in late 2016. In this review, we identify and summarize the results of 16 studies that have assessed the impact of real-world numeric calorie posting. We also discuss several controversies surrounding the US Food and Drug Administration's implementation of federally mandated menu labeling. Overall, the evidence regarding menu labeling is mixed, showing that labels may reduce the energy content of food purchased in some contexts, but have little effect in other contexts. However, more data on a range of ong-term consumption habits and restaurant responses is needed to fully understand the impact menu labeling laws will have on the US population's diet.

Study of the cross-reactivity of fish allergens based on a questionnaire and blood testing

BackgroundParvalbumin and collagen have been identified as cross-reactive allergens for fish allergies. Although doctors realize that various fish elicit allergies, the targets of food allergen labeling laws were only mackerels and salmons in Japan and mackerels in South Korea. This study aimed to reveal the causative species for fish allergy via questionnaires and blood tests. MethodsQuestionnaire research was conducted in Japan via the internet concerning allergies for fish-allergic patients or their family members. Next, IgE reactivities and cross-reactivities of 26 fish species were analyzed using sera obtained from 16 Japanese patients who were allergic to fish parvalbumin or collagen by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and inhibition ELISA. ResultsQuestionnaire research revealed that 88% patients cannot eat mackerel and salmon in addition to other fish. In addition, 85% respondents were not satisfied with the current food allergen labeling law. In ELISA analyses, we clarified that pooled serum obtained from patients with fish parvalbumin-specific allergies exhibited IgE reactivity to the extracts of most fish species, and pooled serum obtained from patients with fish collagen-specific allergies displayed IgE reactivity to the extracts of all types of fish. Inhibition ELISA experiments revealed cross-reactivities of parvalbumin or collagen to extracts from all fish tested. ConclusionsMost patients with fish allergies displayed allergic symptoms following the intake of various fish species. In addition, fish parvalbumin and collagen were causative factors of fish allergy and were highly cross-reactive fish panallergens. Therefore, current laws should be revised in Japan and South Korea.

Disabling Labeling: The WTO Consistency of the Indonesian Mandatory Halal Labeling Law

SECO Working Paper 8/2016: The Halal Act is the first law in Indonesia, a Muslim majority nation, requiring Halal certification and labeling. Prior to the law, the Indonesian Council of Ulama (MUI) oversaw voluntary Halal certification. While Islamic organizations in Indonesia have praised the emergence of this law, local and foreign business entities have expressed their anxiety over whether such requirements would mean extra costs for them. The Halal Act involves several WTO issues, which could raise questions of Indonesia’s compliance with its WTO obligations. There have been a number of WTO cases where panel and the Appellate Body evaluated the concept of ‘public morals’. The question is how to balance this moral/religious objective and the means used to achieve such objective so that they are not more trade restrictive than necessary? It is also important to note that although Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world, the Indonesian constitution itself specifies that the country is not a Muslim nation and recognizes the existence of more than five religions in the country. This paper seeks to examine the WTO TBT consistency of the new Indonesian Halal Act and whether mandatory halal certification and labeling can be defended as an exception to WTO law.

Authentication and Mislabeling Detection in Canned Meat Using Multiplex PCR

Detection of species adulteration in meat products is important for consumer protection and food labeling law application. The threat and risk of food adulteration and mislabeling have become a large concern and challenge for the food control authorities and consumers. In this study 10 samples of Luncheon and 10 samples of Corned beef were examined for mislabeling detection by means of multiplex PCR. Results showed that 8 of the 10 samples Luncheon and all the 10 samples Corned beef were adulterated with goat meat while one sample of Luncheon was adulterated with equine meat. Which were not in compliance with the label on the examined product. A strict national program by the concerned authority is required to protect consumers and prevent adulteration of food stuff.