Afework 1

Haymy Afework
Mr. Rogers
Government p. 4
2 November 2015
Afework Food Label Act of 2015
How many average Americans are familiar with the terms polydextrose, alpha tocopnerol
acetate, pyridoxine, and hydrochloride? Or how many Americans can confidently state they
know the difference between the terms organic and natural? The answer is few, if any at all.
Big food companies use this unfamiliarity to their advantage to deceive consumers across the
United States. Some food companies even neglect putting crucial information about their product
on the labels at all. No matter how deceptive the acts of these big food companies are, they are
not the ones to blame. If there were stricter laws in place for the companies to follow, there
would be no problems with food labels validity. These acts are due to the Food and Drugs
Administration (FDA)s unsuitable regulations regarding food labels. The FDA is an agency
under the United States government in charge of protecting our nations public health. But to
what extent can the FDA protect citizens and promote their health and safety if they continue to
allow food companies to manipulate their loosely termed rules and interpret them to work in
their own favor? The Afework Food Label Act when passed will obligate the FDA and US
government to enact strict guidelines for food companies to follow regarding food labels,
therefor allowing consumers to be more knowledgeable about what they are eating, and
commence the further success of these big food companies.
The passing of this bill will create a more organized, full-proof way for the FDA and the
United States government to better supervise food companies. Now, we know that FDA

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guidance to food/drink manufacturers will provide a floor but typically not a ceiling for legal
obligations (Goldman, 2014). This quote from Forbes Magazine is a great example of the
looseness of the FDA regulations on food labeling. There are many factors to a single food
product, from the smallest ingredient that is added to where or by whom it was manufactured.
There is a lot to know about the food we eat. For example, the ingredients for a jar of spaghetti
sauce, a box of cereal, or a cup of coffee could come from around the corner or around the world;
they could be grown with numerous pesticides or just a few; they could be grown on huge
corporate organic farms or on small family-run conventional farms; they could be harvested by
children or by machines; they could be stored in hygienic or pest-infested storage facilities; or
they could increase or decrease the risk of cancer. A description of any one food product could
include information on a myriad of attributes (Golan, Kuchler, and Mitchel 2001). As shown in
this quote, there are an overwhelming amount of factors that must go into food labels. This bill
will allow the FDA to hold food companies accountable for following stricter, more specific
rules. Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is charged with regulating food
labeling, plaintiffs attorneys are seeking to fill a void in the FDAs regulatory authority and
enforcement of food labeling laws (Negowetti, Nicole E.). This quote vouches for the fact that
there is an obvious void in the regulations set by the FDA.
American consumers will greatly benefit in their everyday lives when the the ideas of this
bill are brought to light. Current requirements for food labels are lenient. Requirements for labels
on products include, Mandatory Features Located on PDP; Product Name, Handling Statement,
Legend / Establishment Number, Net Weight Statement -mandatory for retail sale products.
Random weight retail products can have statement on application "net weight applied prior to
retail sale" instead of net weight statement Information Panel; Mandatory information that is

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permitted to be displayed off the principal display panel, Ingredients Statement, Signature Line,
Nutrition Facts Mandatory Feature Displayed Anywhere on Labeling; Safe Handling
Instructions (FSIS). This bill will hold companies accountable to relating more information
about their product to the consumers (via the food label). It is truly tragic when a customer who
trusted a food companys labels ends up having an allergic reaction to said food companys
product. Consumers who react to a food which is not one of the 'Big eight' cannot depend on the
"Contains" declaration as it will not give information about food ingredients which are not one of
the big eight (for example, sesame seeds) (Food Labelling for the Food Allergic Consumer).
Most food companies only bother to put allergy warnings on their labels if there are any
ingredients that are considered a common allergy. Some ingredients can be collectively
labelled such as spices, flavors, and colors. This means that a food ingredient which can cause a
reaction in food hypersensitive consumers may be in a food without being declared on the
ingredients label (Food Labelling for the Food Allergic Consumer). Failure to disclose specific
ingredients in food products can be harmful for consumers with allergies, even deadly in some
cases. This bill will ensure that consumers have the opportunity to know everything about the
products they buy and eat, therefor ensuring their safety and satisfaction. Millions of US
residents pay a visit to grocery stores everyday. With the terms of this bill successfully in place,
customers will be guaranteed they are getting the quality food/drink they read about on the
products label. No more skepticism on whether or not the eggs were really laid by free-range
chickens. Consumers will feel safer knowing that the FDA and the United States government
have taken large measures to guarantee that the entire truth is revealed on a products labels.
Although putting accurate labels on products is a very important aspect of this bill, it will also
require that there is a section on the labels that specify labels so there is no confusion between

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terms (i.e. organic and natural). The Afework Food Label Act will benefit consumers of all edible
products and will protect them against consequences due to falsification of food labels on
nutrition labels, ingredients, health claims, etc.
This bill will not only be helpful for consumers, but it will greatly benefit the companies
and CEOs that are required to follow the rules within it. Like I stated earlier, law suits on the
basis of false food labels are not uncommon. Since 2011, consumer advocacy groups and
plaintiffs have filed more than 150 food labeling class action lawsuits against food and beverage
companies (Negowetti, Nicole E.). These law suits most of the time end in companies making
big settlements to the consumer effected. In the last month alone, there have been at least 11
recalls nationwide. For one example of recent recalls, Kar's Nuts, Inc. announces it has recalled
a limited number of packages of their Sweet n Salty Mix products with best by dates between
August 25, 2016 and September 2, 2016. The recall is being initiated due to consumer reports of
hard, clear foreign material (approximately one half the size of a sunflower kernel) being found
in several package (See Recent Recalls). Food companies lose a substantial amount of money
when there is a recall put on one of their products. This bill will force companies to be more
prudent in making sure their products are as best as they can be in every way. Also if the FDA
makes sure that all ingredients are clearly labeled, there can really be no allergy law suits.
Helados La Tapatia, Inc., of Fresno, California, is voluntarily recalling 13 milk based ice cream
products manufactured during the limited time frame of October 8, 2015, through October 16,
2015, (see separate UPC Inventory list provided herewith for detailed description) due to the
inclusion of egg and soy ingredients which were not identified on product packaging and which
are potential allergens to some people (See Recent Recalls). Basically, these big food

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corporations do indeed have to forfeit some things, but they will gain many more things; money,
consumer trust, number of consumers.
Some big food corporations may refute the terms of this bill by saying it is too difficult to
follow such specific rules. Consumers have different preferences and ideas of what is or is not
important for companies to relate on their labels. Some consumers may want to know whether or
not animals were harmed in the manufacturing of the product while others just care if its
organic. But health risks are the same for all of these consumers, no matter their risk preferences.
Risk of cancer and other diseases can increase after the consumption of certain products
(Cancer). The statement refuting this bill saying that food labels would contain too much
information is true. Food labels contain a great deal of information on most packaged foods.
The FDA has proposed updates to the current Nutrition Facts label (Food Labeling). However,
there are ways to get around this. There are certain images or seals a food company can put on
their product to say it is organic for example. Some people might argue that every food product
has a fine amount of information on their food labels and there is no need to have them add
more. However, as of 2015, Some foods are not required to have food labeling on them
(Reading the New Food Labels). How can consumers feel protected when not all food requires
food labels? Food companies rely on their customers to remain loyal consumers. The companies
may lose a sense of privacy and even some customers, however it is all worth it in the long run
for the companies CEOs when they successfully avoid law suits. They will most likely gain
more customers if they actively advertise that they are cooperating with the government on
ensuring the safety of consumers.
In conclusion, the Afework Food Labeling Bill will bring positive change to the food
labeling system in the United States. After the bill is passed, all food companies and label

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manufacturers will have to sign contracts relinquishing their rights to full privacy on their
factories and farms properties. CEOs of every food company that is on United States soil will
be required to provide the FDA with a copy of every food label, ingredients list, health claim,
nutrition fact, etc. that they plan to label their products with. The FDA will then provide
investigators to have random checks on said factory location sites to verify the claims on their
labels. Consumers will have a sense of relief knowing they dont have to question the validity of
food labels. Food companies will have better relationships with their consumers overall.

Works Cited
"Cancer." Cancer. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Nov. 2015.

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"Food Labeling." University of Maryland Medical Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Nov. 2015.
"Food Labelling for the Food Allergic Consumer." Food Labelling for the Food Allergic
Consumer. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Nov. 2015.
"FSIS." Check List for Mandatory Features on a Label. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Nov. 2015.
Golan, Elise, Fred Kuchler, and Lorraine Mitchell. "Economics of Food Labeling." Journal of
Consumer Policy, 2001. Web. 20 Oct. 2015.
Goldman, E. (2014, June 18). Are We Going To See An Explosion Of Food Labeling Lawsuits?
Negowetti, Nicole E. "Food Labeling Litigation: Exposing Gaps in the FDAs Resources and
Regulatory Authority." Food Labeling Litigation: Exposing Gaps in the FDAs Resources
and Regulatory Authority (n.d.): n. pag. Brookings.edu. Brookings, June 2014. Web. 20
Oct. 2015.
"Reading the New Food Labels." HGIC 4056 : Extension : Clemson University : South Carolina.
N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Nov. 2015.
"See Recent Recalls." See Recent Recalls. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Nov. 2015.