In direct response to requests from the public, the FDA has extended the comment period for the Use of the Term “Natural” on Food Labeling. The comment period will now end on May 10, 2016. Due to the complexity of this issue, FDA said it is committed to providing the public with more time to submit comments. The FDA will thoroughly review all public comments and information submitted before determining its next steps.
 
FDA announced in November that it would be accepting public comments on “natural” food labeling. At that time the agency said it has received three Citizen Petitions requesting a definition for the term “natural” for use in food labeling and one Citizen Petition asking that the agency prohibit the term “natural” on food labels. The agency also noted that some Federal courts, as a result of litigation between private parties, have requested administrative determinations from FDA regarding whether food products containing ingredients produced using genetic engineering or foods containing high fructose corn syrup may be labeled as “natural.”  
 
Although FDA has not engaged in rulemaking to establish a formal definition for the term “natural,” it does have a longstanding policy concerning the use of “natural” in human food labeling. FDA has considered the term “natural” to mean that nothing artificial or synthetic  (including all color additives regardless of source) has been included in, or has been added to, a food that would not normally be expected to be in that food. However, this policy was not intended to address food production methods, such as the use of pesticides, nor did it explicitly address food processing or manufacturing methods, such as thermal technologies, pasteurization, or irradiation. The FDA also did not consider whether the term “natural” should describe any nutritional or other health benefit.   
 
To electronically submit comments to the docket, visit www.regulations.gov and type FDA-2014-N-1207 in the search box.    
 
To submit comments to the docket by mail, use the following address. Be sure to include docket number FDA-2014-N-1207 on each page of written comments.  
 
Division of Dockets Management
HFA-305
Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061
Rockville, MD 20852