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ARTICLES FROM THE PRESS
Defining natural foods
7/03/2008-The term “natural” adds a premium to food products and makes them appear fresher, minimally processed, and safer. But consumers and the food industry will have to wait to know exactly what natural does – or does not—mean.
Despite the term’s widespread use, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) discourages the food industry from using “natural” on labels because of its ambiguity. As well, “natural” implies that a food product is superior, fresher, safer or more healthful than its counterparts, said the FDA’s Ritu Nalubola.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires only that natural products be free of artificial or synthetic ingredients or additives that would otherwise be "not normally expected," said Ritu Nalubola of the FDA.
In 1991, FDA tried to define the term and, by 1993, gave up. The agency decided to not restrict the use of ‘natural’ on products. "It is a very complex term," Nalubola said.
~ Reprinted courtesy of The Institute of Food Technologists
Jalapeno and serrano peppers may be linked to outbreak
7/10/2008-FDA has updated the nationwide warning to concerning the outbreak of Salmonella Saintpaul.
The FDA states: Although epidemiological and other evidence continues to have a strong association with certain raw tomatoes, a recent case control study and disease cluster information provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) indicate that not only tomatoes, but also raw jalapeno and serrano peppers may be linked to illnesses in this continuing outbreak.
High risk populations such as elderly persons, infants and people with impaired immune systems should not consume raw jalapeno and raw serrano peppers. Consumers are advised to continue to avoid raw red plum, red Roma, or red round tomatoes, except for those grown in areas that are not associated with the outbreak.
~ Reprinted courtesy of The Institute of Food Technologists
