Food Safety

New York City on Friday (Aug. 25) settled a lawsuit brought by food industry groups over the cities' menu labeling law by agreeing to hold off enforcing the city's requirements until FDA's federal menu labeling rule kicks in May 2018.

FDA is asking the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to dismiss a lawsuit that seeks to overturn the agency's year-long delay of the menu labeling rule, arguing the plaintiffs do not have standing to sue.

Months after FDA decided to delay implementation of its menu labeling rule -- prompting a lawsuit from consumer groups -- the National Grocers Association, National Restaurant Association, Food Marketing Institute and other industry groups are asking FDA to revise the rule to provide the industry greater flexibility.

The House Energy & Commerce Committee will mark up Thursday (July 27) a bill sponsored by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) to loosen menu labeling requirements for certain food establishments and limit liability for noncompliance with labeling requirements.

The Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously advanced a fiscal 2018 FDA funding bill out of committee Thursday (July 20) that adds $1 million in discretionary funding for FDA over the fiscal 2017 enacted level, totaling $2.8 billion, and adds $60 million in additional funding for the agency to implement the 21st Century Cures Act.

FDA announced Thursday (June 29) a 30-day extension of the comment period for the interim final rule on menu labeling in response to the National Restaurant Association (NRA), which asked for more time to respond to what they say are complex technical issues in the regulation.

FDA on Tuesday (June 13) announced it will delay the deadline for food companies to start using the new nutrition facts label after industry raised concerns about being able to comply by the July 26, 2018 date.

Several weeks after the Trump administration delayed a nationwide menu labeling rule, the House Energy & Commerce health subcommittee announced it will hold a hearing Friday (June 9) to consider Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers' (R-WA) nutrition bill that would alter disclosure requirements for certain food establishments and limit liability for noncompliance with labeling requirements.

President Donald Trump's fiscal 2018 budget proposal would cut FDA's human drug program by $307 million in discretionary budget authority, its medical device program by $182 million, its biologics program by $119 million and its food program by $70 million, resulting in cuts to the agency's workforce and programs even if Congress were to go along with Trump's request to double user fees.