Southwestern - The Vegetarian Resource Group

VR g .CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTEDTHE VEGETARIAN RESOURCE GROUPVEGETARIAN JOURNALP.O. BOX 1463BALTIMORE, MD 21203www.vrg.orgNONPROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGEPAIDBALTIMORE, MDPERMIT NO. 9169New FDA Labeling Rules for Beetle-DerivedFood and Cosmetic Cochineal Extractand Carmine ColoringBy Jeanne Yacoubou, MS, VRG Research DirectorIn January 2009, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)announced that all foods and cosmetics containing cochinealextract or carmine must contain a “prominent and conspicuous”declaration of these ingredients by name at least once onthe item label. Previously, these colorings derived from femalecochineal beetles could be declared on a label under a generic“color added” label or something similar.The ruling becomes compulsory in January 2011.Voluntary compliance by companies may begin immediately.The colorings are currently used in a host of products—including ice cream, yogurt, fruit drinks, and candy—givingthem a red or purple color.The FDA based its decision on reports of severe allergicreactions, including anaphylaxis, to the coloring. The Centerfor Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) filed a petition in1998 that contained reports of dozens of severe allergic reactionsto the coloring and recommended that it be labeled.The new ruling does not specify that manufacturers mustindicate the insect source of the ingredient.Fish and the ‘Pareve’ DesignationKashrus Magazine is a periodical for the kosher consumerbut can also be very helpful for vegetarians and the allergic.According to this publication, there is a prohibition againsteating meat and fish together in the Jewish religion. However,in cases when Jewish law deems the fish as nullified (due to itsbeing less than 1.66 percent of the finished product), somekosher-certifying agencies label Worcestershire sauce as ‘pareve’(i.e., contains neither meat nor dairy, but could contain fishor egg), with no mention of the fish content. Other agenciesrequire labeling all Worcestershire sauce as ‘fish,’ if anyamount of anchovies is present. Therefore, just seeing the‘pareve’ claim on a product still means that vegetarians willneed to read the ingredient panel carefully.Similarly, in the case of omega-3 fatty acids from fish oils,not all kosher agencies will label the foods as fish since theycontain only a small amount of fish-based oil. Though KashrusMagazine covers many non-vegetarian issues, they often haveinformation like this that is helpful to vegetarians, as well asfacts about kosher natural foods products. To subscribe, call(718) 336-8544 or visit .Printed on recycled paper!