FDA enters debate on Natural

We've blogged before on the meaning of "natural" when applied to skin and body products, discussing in particular the definitions put forth by the Natural Products Association (NPA) and the Natural Ingredients Resource Center (NIRC).  Now the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has reversed itself in a ruling on high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and ruled that it can be considered "natural" under certain manufacturing processes, according to an article in FoodNavigator-USA, a food industry publication. The ruling came in a letter from the FDA to the Corn Refiner's Association (CRA).

It appears that the ruling is based on technicality having to do with the production process for HFCS. Even though the process uses a synthetic fixing agent, it supposedly doesn't come into contact with the HFCS, so that it is acceptable as "natural".  As the article points out, however, the Sugar industry as well as other consumer groups argue that HFCS isn't natural because

its chemical bonds are broken and rearranged in the manufacturing process.

What this really points out is that there isn't yet a good standard definition for what is "Natural".  According to the FDA letter, it makes decisions on a case-by-case basis.

A search of the FDA website reveals this interesting statement:

The term "natural" has not been defined in FDA's law (the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act) or in FDA's regulations.

A review of the Google Results for "FDA natural" reveals a number of recent "natural" issues with the FDA, including in addition to HFCS the issues of Stevia, various "natural" cures for cancer and other diseases, some paranoia about health freedom, and the discussion of whether they will define "natural." This blog post from April 2008 is a good discussion of some of the issues, although it is now outdated by the new FDA ruling.

According to SourceWatch, a website that tracks "the names behind the news" the CRA has spent $20-30 million on a public relations and advertising campaign in support of HFCS.

The FDA now seems to have thrown in its lot with the CRA.  I'm sure we haven't heard the last of it.

Technorati Tags: HFCS,high fructose corn syrup,natural standards