New Labeling Compliance Timetable
from Food Navigator-USA
Food and beverage companies will have until 2012 to make any labeling regulation changes that are introduced over the next two years, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced. One area that is likely to see a change in the near future is food allergen labeling. More

About 1 in 9 U.S. Kids Use Alternative Medicine

More than one in nine children and teens use herbal supplements or some other form of alternative medicine, the government said, citing a new national survey. It's the first time children's use of such remedies, including acupuncture, meditation, and chiropractic care, has been measured. More

Vitamins and Supplements: Do They Work?

Americans are amply fed and, for the most part, well nourished. Because much of our food is fortified with nutrients, once common deficiency diseases such as scurvy and rickets (caused by a lack of vitamin C and D, respectively) have nearly disappeared in this and other developed countries. Researchers generally believe that with a few exceptions, like pregnant women or the elderly, most people don't need supplements. More

Eat More Nuts

Here's a health tip in a nutshell: Eating a handful of nuts a day for a year — along with a Mediterranean diet rich in fruit, vegetables and fish — may help undo a collection of risk factors for heart disease. Spanish researchers found that adding nuts worked better than boosting the olive oil in a typical Mediterranean diet. Both regimens cut the heart risks known as metabolic syndrome in more people than a low-fat diet did. More

Research into Spinach Keeps Food Safety Focus

Spinach production is slowly gaining ground after its 130-million-pound drop from 2005-06, and opportunities abound for the industry. At the International Spinach Conference Nov. 30–Dec. 2, growers and researchers from the U.S. and Europe gathered to discuss the latest news, trends and breakthroughs. More

A Yellow Light Flashes for Green, Organic

Organic and green products have been the feel-good story of the decade: Good for you and good for the earth, and good for profits as well. But as the recession has entered the plot, it's worth asking: The short answer: Yes, but only if consumers don't have to pay extra for it. More

Ten Packaged Goods Trends to Watch in 2009

Beauty foods and drinks, detox products and concentrated liquid cleaners that cut costs and help the environment are just a few of the packaged goods products to watch for in 2009, according to Datamonitor’s Product Launch Analytics. More

Retail Pricing Strategies: Pricing Your Products

There are many outside influences that affect profitability and a retailer's bottom line. Setting the right price is a crucial step toward achieving that profit. Retailers are in business to make a profit, but figuring out what and how to price products may not come easily. Before we can determine which retail pricing strategy to use in setting the right price, we must know the costs associated with the products. Two key elements in factoring product cost is the cost of goods and the amount of operating expense. More

Rise of Private-Label Products Gives Retailers Clout

As shoppers pack their carts with more lower-priced private-label products, grocery stores may wind up picking up an ancillary benefit of having stronger in-house brands: a bit of leverage in talks with suppliers that make branded goods. Penny-pinching consumers have helped food retailers increase their sales of store-branded products, whose sales increased 10 percent in the past year to more than $81 billion, according to the data firm Nielsen Co. Kroger Co. More

Natural Light a Bright Idea for Retailers

Emerging techniques in neuroscience are now being applied to marketing and could be the wave of the future as retailers find new ways to attract customers in an increasingly competitive environment. More

The Potential for Organic and Eco-Friendly Beauty

Women are interested in eco-friendly and organic skincare products and cosmetics despite the tough economy, suggesting that the category has room for growth, according to a new survey. Last year, retail sales of organic and natural skincare products rose 10 percent to reach $294 million. More

Whole Foods Sues FTC Over Challenge of Wild Oats Sale

Natural grocer Whole Foods filed a federal lawsuit Monday against the Federal Trade Commission, claiming the regulator violated its due-process rights in a dispute over its acquisition of rival Wild Oats. More