Anyone manufacturing, packaging, or selling food must follow food industry regulations. These legal and regulatory requirements apply not only to manufacturers. They also apply to sellers and packaging intermediaries.
As these companies strive to bring new ingredients and products to market, they must also prepare for new regulatory issues. Do you want to know more about the issues that will impact the food and beverage industry? Learn more about the expected changes the FDA is making by reading this article!
What Is Healthy?
Food manufacturing and reformulation depend on a lot of factors. One of these factors is the U.S. Food and Drug Administration definition of healthy.
"Healthy" is an implied nutrient content claim based on FDA regulations. It should follow specific amounts of total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium.
The FDA hinted that it would revise the current definition soon. The agency is developing a symbol to identify products that fit the updated "healthy."
Stakeholders should keep an eye out for this revision in 2022.
Standards of Identity
The FDA recognized that many food product standards of identification are decades old. That's why the agency reopened a comment period for a proposed rule earlier in February 2020.
This new rule will provide general principles to modernize many standards in 2020. These principles set the establishing, revising, or revoking of a product's standard of identity.
Animal Cell Technology
Many food processing companies are racing to get products made from animal cells. Yet, the FDA and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) still have to resolve labeling issues.
In October 2020, the FDA requested information on foods with cultured seafood cells. The USDA responded with a recent publication of a notice. It involves the labeling of meat and poultry products containing cultured cells.
Expect clarity and potential coordination from the agencies on this issue in 2022.
Heavy Metals and Other Substances
The FDA is proposing action levels on lead in baby food and other heavy metals. Other stakeholders such as NGOs continue to press the agency to move faster.
Besides heavy metals in baby foods, expect continued attention on other substances. It includes PFAS, acrylamide, and BPA present in food and food packaging materials.
Cannabinoids
In 2021, California opened up new regulatory paths to add CBD or other cannabinoids in food items.
This action is in direct contrast with the FDA's position. Until the FDA issues a regulation allowing CBD as a food ingredient, it is not an ingredient.
Unless there are health claims, the FDA maintains a hands-off attitude. CBD still gets promoted as an ingredient in food or dietary supplements. On the flip side, Delta-8-THC is raising alarms on food safety.
Know More About These Regulatory Issues
Expect more regulatory activities in the future. They will continue to impact all food and beverage companies. They also influence innovators bringing new food ingredients and products to the market.
Ensure compliance with these changing regulatory issues from the FDA and USDA.
Contact us now to avail consultants for all your food and beverage concerns!