FDA to Extend Comment Period on Measure to Further Reduce Trans Fat in Processed Foods - UPDATE

The Federal Register notice extending the comment period on FDA’s preliminary determination that partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), the primary dietary source of artificial trans fat in processed foods, are not “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) for use in food is on display and will publish on December 31, 2013. FDA issued a Constituent Update on December 17, 2013 notifying the public that it had made the decision to extend the comment period and that publication of a Federal Register notice was being expedited.

The comment period is being extended by 60 days, to March 8, 2014. This extension is being provided in response to numerous stakeholder requests to provide additional time for comments.

FDA published a notice in the Federal Register announcing its preliminary determination on November 8, 2013. FDA provided 60 days, until January 7, 2014, for interested persons to provide comments and scientific data pertaining to the notice, including specific issues that FDA sought comments on such as possible alternative approaches, time needed for reformulation, burden on small businesses, and other technical challenges to removal of PHOs from the food supply.

Submit comments electronically to the FDA docket on http://www.regulations.gov, use docket number FDA-2013-N-1317.

To submit comments by mail, send to FDA at:
Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305)
Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061
Rockville, MD 20852

All submissions must include the agency name and docket number. 


Resources on trans Fatty Acids Now Available

While the FDA 60-day comment period is underway, explore the collection of resources on trans fatty acids, including Official AOCS Methods,  books, a listing of analytical references, and more. In addition, learn more about the upcoming AOCS trans Fatty Acid Sample Analysis Webinar.  

Do your TFA Measurments Align with FDA's? Sample Analysis Discussion Webinar

Guarantee your lab is properly identifying peaks with the AOCS trans fat analysis testing sample kit and webinar tutorial.

Who should participate: Laboratories who want to verify they are accurately measuring trans fatty acids.

When: 18 March 2014 at 10:00 CST.

What: This kit includes two samples for testing AOCS Official Method Ce 1h-05. The webinar will help participants identify and avoid commonly made mistakes in order to help their laboratories maintain the highest possible standards of accuracy and reliability.

How it works: Purchase this test sample kit and you will be automatically registered for the webinar tutorial. Samples will be shipped to all participants during the week beginning January 13, 2014. Once you receive your kit, analyze the samples using Ce 1h-05 and to remit your labeled chromatograms. AOCS Member Experts and AOCS Technical Services will facilitate the webinar based on the data you supply.

For more information, visit:
www.aocs.org/transwebinar

For questions, contact Gina Clapper:
gina.clapper@aocs.org
+1 217-693-4809

Proposed Rule on Intentional Adulteration of Food

As required by the bipartisan Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration today proposed a rule that would require the largest food businesses in the U.S. and abroad to take steps to prevent facilities from being the target of intentional attempts to contaminate the food supply. The proposed rule is the sixth issued under the landmark FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which focuses on prevention and addresses the safety of foods that are produced domestically or are imported to the United States.

Under the proposed rule, a food facility would be required to have a written food defense plan that addresses significant vulnerabilities in its food production process. Facilities then would have to identify and implement strategies to address these vulnerabilities, establish monitoring procedures and corrective actions, verify that the system is working, ensure that personnel assigned to the vulnerable areas receive appropriate training and maintain certain records.

The proposed rule does not apply to farms and food for animals. Also in the proposed rule, the FDA describes its current thinking and is seeking comment on other issues, including economically motivated adulteration.

The FDA will hold a public meeting on February 20, 2014 in College Park, MD. The FDA will conduct additional outreach during the comment period, which may include additional public meetings.

The proposed rule is available for public comment until March 31, 2014.

For more information:

• Federal Register Notice for the Proposed Rule “Focused Mitigation Strategies to Protect Food Against Intentional Adulteration”

• Fact Sheet on the Proposed Rule

Update - Removal of Trans Fat in Processed Foods - FDA has extended the public comment period to March 8, 2014

FDA has decided to extend the comment period by 60 days, to March 8, 2014, on its preliminary determination that partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), the primary dietary source of artificial trans fat in processed foods, are not “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) for use in food. This extension is being provided in response to numerous stakeholder requests to provide additional time for comments. FDA is expediting publication of a notice in the Federal Register and will issue a Constituent Update when the exact publication date is known.

FDA published a notice in the Federal Register announcing its preliminary determination on November 8, 2013. FDA provided 60 days, until January 7, 2014, for interested persons to provide comments and scientific data pertaining to the notice, including specific issues that FDA sought comments on such as possible alternative approaches, time needed for reformulation, burden on small businesses, and other technical challenges to removal of PHOs from the food supply.

Submit comments electronically to the FDA docket on http://www.regulations.gov, use docket number FDA-2013-N-1317.
To submit comments by mail, send to FDA at:
Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305)
Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061
Rockville, MD 20852
All submissions must include the agency name and docket number

Find Out More

• "FDA to Extend Comment Period on Measure to Further Reduce Trans Fat in Processed Foods" (December 17, 2013 FDA CFSAN Constituent Update)

• "FDA takes step to further reduce trans fats in processed foods Reducing trans fat intake could prevent thousands of heart attacks and deaths" (FDA News Release)

• "FDA Targets Trans Fat in Processed Foods" (FDA Consumer Update)

• "Trans Fat: Taking the Next Important Step" FDA Blog Post by Michael R. Taylor, Deputy Commissioner for Foods and Veterinary Medicine) 

• "Background Information for Media: Trans Fats" (International Food Information Council Press Release)

Resources on trans Fatty Acids Now Available

While the FDA 60-day comment period is underway, explore the collection of resources on trans fatty acids, including Official AOCS Methods,  books, a listing of analytical references, and more. In addition, learn more about the upcoming AOCS trans Fatty Acid Sample Analysis Webinar.  

Resources on trans Fatty Acids Now Available at aocs.org

While the FDA 60-day comment period is underway, explore the collection of resources on trans fatty acids, including Official AOCS Methods,  books, a listing of analytical references, and more. In addition, learn more about the upcoming AOCS trans Fatty Acid Sample Analysis Webinar.  

How else can AOCS help you regarding the trans fat debate?