FDA Requests Comment On Natural Claims

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is inviting public comment on the use of the term “natural,” an issue that has come to the forefront in the context of private litigation and surrounding developments. The request comes in response to three citizen petitions asking that the agency define the term “natural” for use in food labeling, one petition requesting that FDA prohibit the term “natural” on food labels, and requests from federal courts stemming from private litigation asking that FDA issue an administrative determination addressing whether foods containing genetically engineered ingredients or high fructose corn syrup may be labeled as “natural.”

FDA also plans to work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to examine the use of “natural” claims related to meat, poultry, and egg products, as well as to identify areas of coordination between FDA and USDA. Comments are due February 10, 2016.

Hogan Lovells Memo
Use of the Term Natural - Request for Information and Comments