NFPA opposes trans fat label footnote

A leading industry representative has voiced opposition to the government's plan to create a nutrition label footnote on trans fat. In comments filed with FDA, the National Food Processors Association (NFPA) said it does not think a label footnote relating to food's trans fat content should be considered, because it would not contribute to the education of consumers. "Consumers must be educated about the need to restrict their intake of trans fat using tools more effective than a label footnote," said Rhona Applebaum, NFPA's executive vice president and chief science officer. Applebaum said once one educational footnote was mandated for food labels, "when and where would it stop?"

Showdown for soft drinks and milk

Rising criticism of the pervasive presence of sugared soft drinks in the Nation's public schools, and concerns about youth nutrition, may provide a political opening for the dairy industry. Dairy state lawmakers have introduced legislation that could significantly increase the presence of milk in schools. The Child Nutrition Improvement Act of 2003 (H.R. 3250) would amend the National School Lunch Act to give school systems more flexibility in the variety of milk products used in schools and provide incentives for increased milk consumption. It would also prevent other beverage contracts from excluding milk sales at school events and in vending machines, as is now often the case. The legislation is co-sponsored by Reps. Tom Petri (R-WI), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Ron Kind (D-WI), and Gil Gutknecht (R-MN).