Back to school: Allergen-free snacks for the whole class

FDA misses opportunity to prevent food manufacturers from adding sesame, an allergen, to evade cross-contamination rules

FDA's response to the CSPI allergen labeling citizen petition

FDA’s tepid response to intentional addition of allergens to foods fails consumers

Peter's Memo: Fighting for clearer food labels

Consumers have a right to know what’s in their foods and beverages. That’s why the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Nutrition Action’s publisher, has long fought for labels that tell the whole story.

Have a food allergy? This industry practice could increase your risk

Adding sesame to food products is a quick-and-dirty means to address cross-contact risks and prevent potential recalls for undeclared sesame, because these protective steps aren’t required when an allergen is already declared as an ingredient. So, companies may imagine, it’s better to add a new allergen and declare it than to actually clean up production lines to reduce it.

FDA urged to prohibit food companies from intentionally adding an allergen, sesame, to evade cross-contamination rules

As a result, many manufacturers are labeling foods and cleaning up production practices to prevent foods from becoming contaminated with sesame through accidental cross-contact. But some manufacturers have responded to the new law by intentionally adding sesame to ingredients lists.

Re: Petition to FDA to notify manufacturers that they cannot mitigate allergen cross-contact risks by adding sesame and other major allergens to foods

The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) submits this petition under 21 U.S.C. § 350g, 5 U.S.C. § 553(e), 21 C.F.R. § 117.135, and 10 C.F.R. § 10.30 to equest that the Commissioner of Food and Drugs issue a notice to manufacturers and update its industry guidance to prevent manufacturers from intentionally adding sesame and other major allergens to products when they identify allergen cross-contact risks, a practice that violates food safety rules.

Peter's Memo: The fight for Alcohol Facts

At the Center for Science in the Public Interest, we’re not only pushing for better food labels. For decades, we’ve also been fighting for labels that give consumers critical facts about alcohol.

Comment to FDA re: draft guidance on allergen labeling

CSPI urges the agency to lay out a plan to proactively consider new allergens and develop controls for allergens prioritized under the proposed framework. We also urge FDA to develop an approach to prioritizing food intolerances not covered by the current guidance.