By Wes Siegner – On January 21 we posted on FDA’s unusual decision to reopen the comment period for the final guidance on INDs with respect to food and cosmetic research. Subsequently we learned that 60 university department heads submitted a comment to FDA’s Final IND …
Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, P.C. is participating in the Food and Drug Law Institute's Food Week 2014 being held February 10–13 in Washington, D.C. This program provides an opportunity for food law, regulation and policy stakeholders to gather practical guidance on cutting-edge issues and hear …
By Riëtte van Laack – On December 26, FDA sent Warning Letters (here and here) to Accera, Inc. and NVN Therapeutics. Accera Inc. markets a product, Axona, as a medical food “for the clinical dietary management of the metabolic processes associated with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s …
By Ricardo Carvajal – The Institute of Medicine (“IOM”) published a summary report of the workshop on caffeine in food and dietary supplements that IOM convened last August at FDA’s request. As noted in the introduction to the summary, the summary presents statements, recommendations, and opinions …
By Riëtte van Laack – On January 13, FDA announced the availability of two guidances concerning beverages and liquid dietary supplements: “Distinguishing Liquid Dietary Supplements from Beverages” and “Considerations Regarding Substances Added to Foods, Including Beverages and Dietary Supplements.” Both guidances are derived from FDA’s 2009 …
By JP Ellison – We previously reported that Pom Wonderful had sought Supreme Court review of the 9th Circuit’s decision that POM’s labeling-based claims against Coke’s Minute Maid products could not proceed under the Lanham Act because such labeling was the province of the FDA and the …
By Riëtte van Laack – On January 7, the FTC announced an initiative “Operation Failed Resolution” stating that it wants to protect consumers against deceptive weight loss claims. Among other things, the FTC announced actions against four companies for advertising fad weight-loss products, issued an updated …
By Ricardo Carvajal – As we noted in a prior posting, several courts have stayed or dismissed class actions based on the doctrine of primary jurisdiction in cases that raise the question of whether a GMO-containing food can properly be labeled as “natural.” In response to …
By Ricardo Carvajal – In the latest major rulemaking initiative under the Food Safety Modernization Act ("FSMA"), FDA issued a proposed rule to implement provisions of FSMA that address intentional adulteration. Further below we summarize major provisions of the proposed rule. However, we note at the outset …
By JP Ellison – In early 2014, the Supreme Court will meet in conference to decide whether to hear a case concerning whether, and to what extent, a private party can pursue a Lanham Act claim based on labeling regulated under the FDC Act. The Court will …
By Ricardo Carvajal – A California district court granted Defendants’ motion to dismiss in a putative class action brought by Plaintiffs who alleged that certain plant-based beverages, including soymilk, almond milk, and coconut milk, were misbranded because FDA defines “milk” as being derived from lactating cows. …
By Riëtte van Laack & Wes Siegner – Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, P.C. has filed comments to FDA’s Draft Guidance on Frequently Asked Questions about Medical Foods – Second Edition. As discussed in a prior post, FDA’s Draft Guidance seeks to establish a policy with respect …
By Riëtte van Laack – In addition to the many (more than 20,000) comments to FDA on the draft rules regarding Produce and Preventive Controls implementing the Food Safety Modernization Act (“FSMA”) (Docket Nos. FDA-2011-N-0920 and FDA-2011-N-0921), FDA has received a flurry of letters from Congress …
Next Wednesday, December 12th, the ABA Section of Litigation, Products Liability Committee is sponsoring a live audio program titled “Understanding criminal prosecution of food and supplement companies (and their corporate officers) under the Food Drug and Cosmetic Act: Best practices to avoid becoming the next …
By Ricardo Carvajal – The National Nanotechnology Initiative ("NNI") released its draft 2014 Strategic Plan for comment. The draft plan lays out the NNI’s goals and objectives, which remain largely unchanged from 2011 (see here). As with the 2011 Plan, the draft 2014 Plan includes a …
