Health & Nutrition Strategies For Cancer Survivors & Everybody Else

WHAT'S IN YOUR DIET?

 

In the last column, I touched upon food labeling and promised to provide information on how labeling in the United States food chain, works. There are two regulatory agencies responsible for food safety including labeling in the United States. The FDA and the USDA/ FSIS- Food Labeling Division and there are major differences in their food labeling requirements

The USDA has prior label approval requirements for all meat and poultry products marketed in interstate commerce. In contrast, the FDA does not require prior label approval for food products under its jurisdiction and establishes compliance through post-marketing surveillance.

Let's track a cured sausage product from concept to market. The product is formulated, the formula is submitted to food labeling for approval. Food Labeling will review the formula for compliance to standards. Upon approval of the formula, the features such as the product name, ingredient statement, net weight, signature line (name and address of manufacturer or distributor),handling statement, and safe handling instructions, if not cooked.

The determination of whether a product falls under the jurisdiction of FSIS or FDA is referred to as amenability. A lot of nuances here including things like the product standards of identity and how they're determined, in my next article .

For months I've been extolling the virtues of organic produce, and why it should be a major component in Northeast North Carolina's food choices. I was asked to define organic and the best description I could find was what's not permitted. I referenced the United States Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)), for certified organic regulations and I'll try to decipher the Washington-speak. And lead you to the cite: Produce labeled “US Certified Organic” must be produced and handled without the use of synthetic substances and ingredients, prohibited non-synthetic substances described in (205.604), non-agricultural substances used in or on processed products (except as otherwise provided in 205.606),excluded methods except for vaccines (205.600) , and sewage sludge (bio-solids).

Our government is saying if its not labeled U.S. Certified Organic, it might contain the aforementioned substances and none of them will be identified on the label.

Finally, I'm very impressed with the leadership of College of The Albemarle President Robert Wynegar. Their agriculture curriculum is precisely what our region needs. I strongly support their program. We're on our way to becoming the 'Organic Capital of the World”.

Food can heal or harm. You are what you eat.