1-day Conference: RNG – From Farm to Fuel

This free conference for food processors and Northwest fleets is focused on the production and use of renewable natural gas (RNG). It will be held on November 10, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm at the Comfort Suites in Kennewick, Washington. Lean how RNG presents opportunities for food processors—use of food byproducts and energy and emissions savings. The first half of the day will review how RNG is produced, cleaned, made available to gas pipeline infrastructure, and sold. After lunch, the challenges and benefits of transitioning from diesel to RNG will be discussed. To register, visit: https://www.nwga.org/events/rng-from-food-to-fuel/

FDA is Studying Front-of-Package Labeling to Indicate Healthy Food

As part of FDA’s effort to improve consumer nutrition, FDA will investigate development of new labeling, which will not replace the current labeling but will be a star-rating or traffic-light type rating on the front of the product package that will indicate the nutritional value of the product. This proposal came out of the recent White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health. Below are links to recent articles on the labeling and on European and Chilean experience with such labelling systems. Chile saw a 37% decrease in daily purchase of “unhealthy” nutrients after the labels were implemented. There is also a link to the White House’s Food Strategy presented at the recent Conference. Read the full article in the Washington Post here

Welcome Simone Frazier as new Board Member

Food Northwest welcomes a new member to its Board of Directors. Simone Frazier will be replacing VP Randy Eronimous who took a new position with Darigold. Ms. Frazier joined Darigold in July 2022 as its Senior Vice President of Manufacturing. She has considerable experience in food processing having recently served as Vice President of Engineering at Keurig Dr. Pepper, Inc and prior to that over 25 years with Land O’Lakes, Inc.

FDA Enters Rulemaking to Update the Definition of “Healthy”

On September 29, 2022, FDA published a proposed rule to update the definition for the implied nutrient content claim “healthy” consistent with current nutrition science and FDA dietary guidance. The proposed rule requires, in addition to nutrient limits (saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars), that food products contain a certain amount of food from at least one of the food groups or subgroups recommended by the Dietary Guidelines, 2020-2025 to be labeled “healthy”. For example, a cereal would need to contain ¾ ounce of whole grains and contain no more than 1 gram of saturated fat, 230 milligrams of sodium and 2.5 grams of added sugars. Comments on the rule are due to FDA by 11:59 pm Eastern on December 28, 2022. For a copy of the rule visit: Food Labeling: Nutrient Content Claims: Definition of Term “Healthy”

FDA will hold a webinar on the rule on Friday, October 21, 2022, at 10:00 am Pacific Time, 11:00 am Mountain Time, 1:00 pm Eastern Time. For more information or to register for the webinar visit: https://www.fda.gov/food/cfsan-constituent-updates/fda-host-webinar-discuss-proposed-changes-definition-healthy