The word ‘natural’ on any food label usually implies the ingredient or food stuff has been derived from sources which have been derived from animal or vegetable sources, have not been synthesised or manufactured in a laboratory or factory and have not been manipulated. It might imply that the ‘natural’ food was healthier or better for you but that is far from the truth. It might be a simplistic description because ask any consumer, even a food technologist and most would present a different interpretation of the term.
As with many claims on packs, government agencies have been assessing what certain labelling terms should mean to the consumer. The US Food and Drug Administration is requesting the public complete an online survey which provides information about labelling generally and asks for comments and feedback on this particular term.
It began for the FDA rather more formally with receipt of three Citizen Petitions which requested the agency define the term ‘natural’ used in various types of food labelling. One Citizen Petition also requested the agency actually prevent the term being used on any food labels. The FDA also examined communications from some Federal courts that litigation between private parties, meant the agency must make an administrative determination regarding whether any food products containing ingredients produced using genetic engineering or foods containing high fructose corn syrup for example could be labelled as “natural.” When Federal Courts in the USA begin to take an active interest, then the subject of labelling starts to prick up ears.
The formal definition for ‘natural’ does not really exist at the moment with the FDA. However, the FDA does have a long standing policy concerning the use of the word in any food labelling and has developed what is thought by many food regulators to be a reasonable definition. The FDA believes the term “natural” to mean that nothing artificial or synthetic, including all colour additives and regardless of source has been included in, or has been added to, a food that would not normally be expected to be in that food.
The FDA policy doesn’t consider any food production methods, the use of pesticides, nor consider explicitly various food processing or manufacturing methods, such as thermal technologies, pasteurization, or irradiation. The FDA does not consider either whether the term “natural” should describe any nutritional or other health benefit.
To help the FDA decide, public comments can be submitted at the following link:- http://www.regulations.gov and then type in FDA-2014-N-1207 into the search box. Al comments have to be received by February 2016 and this post will be updated to reflect the findings.
A well researched article. I like what it says about natural when it comes to food. Have you thought about doing more regulatory articles in the food industry?