FDA Denies Court Request To Define “Natural”

by Prolonged Island Attorney Paul A. Lauto, Esq./www.liattorney.com

The FDA has failed to formally define the word ”Natural” as it applies to foods. As a outcome, there is growing litigation across the country concerning shoppers currently being misled by meals labels employing the words “All All-natural,” “Natural” and “100% Organic.”  This is particulary true relative to genetically modified foods that claims to be “Natural.”

Presently, 3 federal judges presiding above three different situations are dealing with this really situation.  Rather than determine themselves as to what constitutes “Natural” and possibly stepping on the toes of the FDA, these judges temporarily stayed every single action pending a response from the FDA as to just what “Natural” implies.

In the FDA letter of response dated January 6, 2014 and signed by the Assistant Commissioner For Policy Leslie Kux, the FDA boldly refused the court’s request.  The FDA stated that they “Decline… to make a determination at this time relating to regardless of whether and underneath what situations food merchandise containing ingredients created employing genetically engineered elements might or may not be labeled ‘Natural’.”  In addition, the FDA stated that that they could not honor the court’s request as they have limited sources, far more crucial issues to attend to and if they did determine to define the word “Natural,” they would not likely do so in the context of litigation.  Meanwhile, the FDA is currently taking into consideration the Grocery Producer Association’s (GMA’s) petition to label GM foods as “Natural” (See our January three, 2014 Scales of Justice site at www.liattorney.com/scales-of-justice.html).

There is something critically wrong, when a nation that is in the midst of a deep recession, spends possibly hundreds of thousands of dollars on litigation to determine the definition of the word Organic.  Ostensibly to the prudent mind, meals that is genetically engineered can not reasonably be regarded as All-natural.  In truth, 1 could simply argue that gentically modified meals are the antithesis of what is Organic.  Unfortunately, the controlling element right here is not reasonableness, but instead is greed.  The FDA could have and ought to have put an end to this entire matter, by basically defining the word “Natural” as most sensible people would.  As an alternative, the FDA when once again has failed to safeguard American shoppers by picking to permit the word “Natural” to stay meaningless in the world of foods.

Prolonged Island Lawyer
Paul A. Lauto, Esq.

www.liattorney.com

FDA Denies Court Request To Define “Natural”