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FDA Inches Closer to New Nutrition Facts Panel Rules

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On August 1, 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) closed its comment period for a proposed rule that would make significant changes to food labeling requirements, particularly nutrition facts panels. Per the Administrative Procedure Act, the FDA is currently reviewing the 264,723 comments that it received regarding the proposed rule and changes to nutrition facts panels that appear on all FDA-regulated food products. The proposed rule can be found here. As soon as the rule is finalized, it will be implemented in sixty (60) days’ time. For existing products, manufacturers will have two (2) years to comply with…
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Dietary Supplement Company Prohibited from Operations After Ignoring FDA Warning Letter

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On August 8, 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") obtained a court order from the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia against a dietary supplement manufacturer. The Order prohibits the manufacturer from selling dietary supplements until they comply with FDA good manufacturing regulations and other applicable, federal requirements. In addition to purported manufacturing deficiencies, the Company, BioAnue, sold dietary supplements that were marketed as treatments for common diseases, causing the FDA to deem these products to be unapproved new drugs. The FDA’s announcement can be found here. BioAnue received a warning letter from the…
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Permanent Injunction Sought after Cheese Manufacturer Fails to Respond to FDA Warning Letter

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On August 8, 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") filed a Complaint for Permanent Injunction against a Michigan Cheese Manufacturer and its owners under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. § 332. The FDA seeks to prevent S. Serra Cheese Company, based in Clinton Township, Michigan from receiving, preparing, processing, packing, holding, or distributing food until they meet FDA requirements. The Complaint for Permanent Injunction comes as a result of inspectional observations and the Company’s failure to take prompt action when notified of these observations. In particular, FDA inspected the manufacturing facility in 2013 and…
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Gluten Free Labeling Now Being Enforced by FDA

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On August 5, 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") regulations regarding “gluten free” labeling came into effect. Last year, on August 5, 2013, the FDA issued a final rule that effectively determined what characteristics a food must have in order to be considered gluten free and bear “gluten free” labeling. We reported about the final rule on gluten free labeling when it was issued exactly one year ago. Our previous report on the gluten free labeling rules may be accessed here. FDA has authority to issue the rule defining gluten free and restricting gluten free labeling under Section…
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FDA Seeks Injunction against Company for Misbranding Drug Products

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On June 25, 2014, the U.S. Department of Justice ("DOJ"), in response to a request made by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"), filed a complaint seeking a permanent injunction against Laclede, Inc. of Rancho Domingo California and the Company's president, Michael A. Pellico. The injunctive relief, which was sought in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, related to Laclede's illegal distribution of over-the-counter (OTC) vaginal drug products that did not have the required FDA approval. News pertaining to this action can be found here. The unapproved products that were subject to the complaint against…
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FDA Warning Issued Regarding Weight Loss Products

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On April 7, 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") released an advisory, warning consumers not to use bee pollen capsule marketed under the name Zi Xiu Tang Bee Pollen. The purpose for the advisory, previously reported here, was to alert the public that the product contained potentially harmful active pharmaceutical ingredients, which had not been listed on the label for the product and was the subject of a FDA warning letter. The undeclared substances, Sibutramine Hydrochloride (sibutramine), an active ingredient in the obesity drug Meridia (pulled from the United States market in December 2010 based on increased risk…
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FDA Publishes Food Allergen Labeling Guidelines

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On May 8, 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published its "Draft Guidance for Industry: Food Allergen Labeling Exemption Petitions and Notifications." The draft guidance represents current thinking on the topic as previously discussed through the release of the October 2006 "Guidance for Industry: Questions and Answers Regarding Food Allergens, including the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (Edition 4); Final Guidance." The guidance provides the FDA's answers to commonly asked questions concerning the notification process for those seeking exemptions from the labeling of food allergens and updates the responses in the 2006 document. You…
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FDA Seizes Topical Creams Deemed Drugs

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On May 16, 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"), with assistance by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, seized unapproved drugs valued at more than $11 million, which were marked by Ascend Laboratories of Montvale, N.J. and held by Masters Pharmaceuticals, Inc. of Cincinnati, OH. The products seized by the FDA included those marketed for the treatment of inflamed hemorrhoids, colitis and other inflammatory conditions (Hydrocortisone Acetate Suppositories, 25 mg) and skin thickening conditions such as dermatitis and eczema (Urea Cream 39%, Urea Cream 40% and Urea Lotion 40%). The FDA announcement can be found…
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FDA Halts Production at New York Cheese Company

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On April 28, 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") prevailed in federal court in its action against Nancy Taber Richards and the company she co-founded, Trumansburg, N.Y.-based Finger Lakes Farmstead Cheese Company, LLC. In particular, the Western District of New York's U.S. District Court entered a consent decree of permanent injunction against the New York dairy manufacturer due to the detection of listeria contamination. News pertaining to the consent decree and prior warning letter can be found here. According to the consent decree, the company Finger Lakes has been prohibited from the further manufacturing, preparation, processing, packaging, storage…
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FDA to Regulate New Tobacco Products, E-Cigarettes

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On April 24, 2014, the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced its publication of newly proposed regulations pertaining to new tobacco products, as permitted by the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009. The products covered under the newly-proposed regulations are any tobacco related products that fall under the statutory definition of tobacco products, including presently uncontrolled, advertised products like pipe tobacco, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), nicotine gels, water pipe tobacco, cigars and other related products. While some products, like electronic cigarettes, don't directly consist of tobacco, these products fall under FDA’s tobacco authority, as promulgated by Congress,…
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