This is a guest blog-post by Professor Timothy D. Lytton In my previous post, I suggested that regulation of front-of-package nutrition labels should begin with better enforcement of existing standards. Existing regulations, I argued, already provide adequate tools to clamp … Continue reading
The new year has ushered in a blizzard of new food labeling systems aimed at helping consumers make healthier choices at the supermarket. This week it is Supervalu, which kicked off nutritionIQ at its California Albertsons stores. The color-coded, easy-to-spot … Continue reading
The Smart Choices food label program launched this weekend at the American Dietetic Association’s annual Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo. In a previous post, we briefly outlined the history of food regulation and labeling. Today we’ll explain the background … Continue reading
In the early 13th century, the king of England proclaimed the first food regulatory law, the Assize of Bread, which prohibited bakers from mixing ground peas and beans into bread dough. Ever since, it has been a cat and mouse game between the food industry and the public (fast forward to China 2008 – melamine in milk powder anybody?). In the US, food regulation dates back to early colonial times. Here is a brief overview of the last 150 years of government and industry food regulation: Continue reading