Nutrition Facts

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1e/Nutrition_label.gif

I’m not even certain if this is worth reporting on right now as it seems to be quite a ways in the distance but it seems we may be seeing a change in the nutritional information listed on packaged food in the distant future. An anonymous source from the Food and Drug Administration spoke to Baking & Snack about a proposal they are working on to update the recommended dietary allowances listed on the Nutrition Facts Panel. I was shocked to see that the current nutritional information is from 1968! That seems well past overdue for a makeover! The dietary guidelines for the ‘MyPyramid’ and “My Plate” tend to change way more often than that. The hope is that by changing the amounts to what people are actually consuming vs what the package determines to be a serving might better help them understand the dangers of overeating and the amount of calories they may actually be consuming which will most likely be highly unpleasant. Especially when posted on delicious snacks like macaroni and cheese and cookies. There is no word on when this proposal will actually be ready or available for view or comment. If I hear anything, I’ll let you know.

No BPA for the FDA?

By the last day of March, 2012 the FDA must decide whether it will ban the use of BPA in food packaging. BPA is chemical bisphenol A, found in hard plastics of food packaging containers, and linings that seal many metal food containers. In studies done on animals, it has been found that it may have negative effects on health. Scientists believe that BPA will negatively react with the “brains, behavior and prostate glands of fetuses, infants and young children” others link it to an increased risk of cancer and other life threatening diseases.

The FDA has said that a recent assessment of B.P.A. at current levels of exposure has not been shown to harm people of any age but did recognize the harm in animals and sees the need for further studies. As of 2010 the FDA said that additional research was in progress and that there should be steps to reduce exposure to BPA and support action to stop producing products for infants contaminated with BPA and minimize BPA levels in other items. The American Chemical Council has said that BPA is safe, and they don’t expect the FDA to change their position, maintaining that BPA is safe in food containers, as government agencies around the world have determined.Click on the link below to learn more and determine if you want to take additional steps to avoid BPA exposure.

http://www.foodbusinessnews.net

http://www.hhs.gov/safety/bpa/