January 30, 2012
IFT provided written comments to FDA/FSIS focused on (1) Sodium Reduction Technological Innovations & Challenges; (2) Monitoring Sodium Content for Assessing Sodium Reduction Initiatives; (3) Establishing & Meeting Voluntary Sodium Reduction Targets; & (4) Communications Crossroads: Government, Food Industry & Consumers. IFT emphasized the importance of investing in food science and technology research and development to stimulate meaningful, safe, and sustainable impacts on sodium intake in the United States. (Read more)
December 21, 2011
In this written commentary, IFT provides insights to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy on the current system for handling and releasing federally-funded research in peer-reviewed journals and the potential ramifications of open access policies. (Read more)
November 10, 2011
IFT provided oral comments at the HHS/USDA Joint Public Meeting on Approaches to Reducing Sodium Consumption on Thursday, November 10, 2011. IFT will also submit written comments to FDA/FSIS by November 29, 2011. Please contact Sheila at sfleischhacker@ift.org if you would like to learn more or provide insights on creating lower sodium products. (Read more)
August 30, 2011
Docket No. APHIS-2011-0046 (Monsanto Co.; Availability of Petition, Plant Pest Risk Assessment, and Environmental Assessment for Determination of Nonregulated Status for Soybean Genetically Engineered to Have a Modified Fatty Acid Profile and for Tolerance to the Herbicide Glyphosate). IFT acknowledges that recombinant DNA techniques applied to foods hold potential for benefits that are advantageous for consumers, food manufacturers, and the environment. (Read more)
July 14, 2011
IFT recognizes the critical value of improving children’s diets and addressing the high rates of childhood obesity. We commend the Interagency Working Group for seeking public comment on the preliminary proposal for voluntary principles to guide industry self-regulatory efforts to improve the nutritional profile of foods marketed to children, and offer the following responses to select specific questions posed in the Working Group's preliminary proposal. (Read more)
April 8, 2011
IFT supports the NOSB Handling Committee’s recommendation that calls for renewal of the allowance in organic foods of vitamins, minerals, and materials as required or allowed by law to enrich, supplement, or fortify foods including infant formula. (Read more)
March 28, 2011
IFT supports the proposed voluntary notification procedure, which has been in effective use under the framework of the 1997 proposed rule since its issuance. (Read more)
March 23, 2011
IFT encouraged the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture to carefully consider the potential for nanotechnology and other scientific and technical advancements that could positively impact organic food production, processing, and packaging to meet the food and nutrition needs of our growing global population. IFT also urged the National Organic Program and the National Organic Standards Board to consider the best available science in making decisions about nanotechnology for the organic food industry, and offered to serve as a scientific and technical resource. (Read more)
March 22, 2011
Given the rigorous safety evaluation that color additives undergo and the lack of scientific evidence for a link with adverse behavior, IFT’s viewpoint is that food color additives present very little risk or effectively no risk for the vast majority of consumers. (Read more)
March 14, 2011
Based on the work IFT has conducted in the area of product tracing, which is related to recordkeeping, IFT was pleased to submit commits concurring that the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of FDA's functions. This information does have practical utility, but information pertaining to product transformations also needs to be considered to ensure comprehensive internal traceability. (Read more)