US FDA seeks public comments on use of term ‘natural’ on food labels

The US Food and Drug Administration has sought public comments on the use of the term ‘natural’ on food labels, a move that shows the agency is finally heading towards giving a formal definition to the term.

This also shows a shift in the FDA’s approach to labeling the term; earlier, it had avoided giving a formal definition to the term even though for long, consumers and food companies have been urging the FDA to define the term.

The regulatory agency’s announcement comes following three citizen petitions, which urged the FDA to define the term.

The update states: "Because of the changing landscape of food ingredients and production, and in direct response to consumers who have requested that the FDA explore the use of the term ‘natural’, the agency is asking the public to provide information and comments on the use of this term in the labeling of human food products."

Some federal courts, as a result of litigation between private parties, had also asked for administrative determinations from the FDA regarding whether food products containing GM ingredients or foods containing high fructose corn syrup may be labeled as ‘natural’.

The FDA has asked for information and public comment on specific questions such as whether it is appropriate to define the term natural and if so, how the agency should define natural, and how the agency should determine appropriate use of the term on food labels.

The FDA has begun accepting public comments from 12 November 2015 to 10 February 2016.

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Image: Consumers and food companies have been urging the FDA to define the term natural for use on label. Photo: courtesy of Stuart Miles/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.