food labeling

Confusion over whether food is still safe to eat after its "sell by" or "use before" date accounts for about one-fifth of food waste in U.S. homes, the FDA says. The agency is urging the food industry to adopt "best if used by" wording on packaged foods.

Health & Safety

To Reduce Food Waste, FDA Urges 'Best If Used By' Date Labels

4:29pm May 23, 2019

by Allison Aubrey

Confusion over whether a food is still safe to eat after its "sell by" or "use before" date accounts for about 20% of food waste in U.S. homes, the FDA says. The new wording aims to clear that up.

Queue Listen Now

Bob Moore, founder of Bob's Red Mill and Natural Foods, inspects grains at the company's facility in Milwaukie, Ore. The pioneering manufacturer of gluten-free products invests in whole grains as well as beans, seeds, nuts, dried fruits, spices and herbs.

National

How Bob's Red Mill Company Became A Gluten-Free Giant Ahead Of Its Time

12:49pm March 24, 2019

by Tove Danovich

Before there was widespread treatment for people with celiac disease, and options for a gluten-free diet were few, the now 90-year-old founder of the Oregon-based business had his eye on the market.

Shoppers say they want simpler information to help them figure out which foods are healthy. But a one-size-fits-all solution may not work.

What's Healthy At The Grocery Store? Shoppers Are Often Confused, Survey Finds

6:38pm January 24, 2019

by Rebecca Ellis

A survey finds shoppers would like a symbol to help them identify healthy foods at a time when many hear conflicting advice. But creating a symbol that works for all foods is fraught with challenges.

A variety of cuts of beef and ground beef are displayed for sale at Union Market in Washington, D.C. A new Missouri law says only products like these cuts that are "derived from harvested production livestock or poultry" can be labeled as meat.

What's Meat, Anyway? Missouri Label Law Says It Comes From An Animal; Some Disagree

5:02pm August 29, 2018

by Emily Sullivan

A state law prohibits plant-based products like soy deli strips from packing descriptors like "roast beef style" or "meaty." The ACLU and others are suing.

The USDA is expecting Americans to eat record amounts of meat this year.

National

Missouri May Be First State To Get Serious About The Definition Of Meat

8:00am May 23, 2018

by Erica Hunzinger

A bill that awaits a signature by the state's governor would restrict "meat" labeling on anything that doesn't come from livestock or poultry. The topic is also being considered at the federal level.

Toddler milks are more expensive and generally less nutritious than milk, says a researcher.

Toddler Milks: Filling A Nutritional Need Or A Marketing Niche?

3:22pm February 20, 2018

by Menaka Wilhelm

When parents transition a baby from breast milk or formula to cow's milk, it can seem like a big jump. We talk with a researcher who looked at just what's in the array of toddler drinks on the market.

Coming soon: The redesigned nutrition facts label will highlight added sugars in food. The label also will display calories per serving, and serving size, more prominently.

An 'Added Sugar' Label Is On The Way For Packaged Food

8:47pm May 20, 2016

by Dan Charles

The Food and Drug Administration has brushed aside industry objections and will require food labels to disclose how much sugar has been added to packaged food.

The maker of Kind bars — which contain almonds and other nuts — pushed back against an FDA complaint about its use of the phrase "healthy and tasty." The FDA is now reviewing its definition of "healthy" as used on food labels.

Why The FDA Is Re-Evaluating The Nutty Definition Of 'Healthy' Food

7:10pm May 10, 2016

by Allison Aubrey

Under current rules, foods containing more than 3 grams of fat per serving can't call themselves "healthy" on labels. But that excludes many foods, like Kind bars, that contain healthful nuts.

Mary Lou Wesselhoeft is a dairy farmer in the Florida Panhandle. Her Ocheesee Creamery pasteurized skim milk has nothing added — and that's the problem. According to regulations, without added vitamins, it can only be sold as "imitation skim milk."

National

All-Natural But Still 'Imitation'? The Strange Case Of The Skim Milk Label

1:37pm April 06, 2016

by Clare Leschin-Hoar

A Florida dairy farmer has had to dump hundreds of gallons of skim milk from her creamery because she doesn't add vitamins back in. Legally, that makes it an "imitation milk product."

Campbell Soup has announced it supports federal legislation requiring labeling of genetically modified ingredients.

National

Campbell Soup Switches Sides In The GMO Labeling Fight

7:10pm January 08, 2016

by Dan Charles

The Campbell Soup Co. has announced that it now supports a federal law requiring labeling of genetically modified ingredients. It's the first major food company to endorse such a law.