FDA/CFSAN's News for Educators – July 2018

Food Safety

Outdoor Food Safety

Summer is the season of barbecues and picnics, and we’re halfway through National Grilling Month! Don’t forget that bacteria in food multiply faster in the warm weather. That’s why outdoor food safety is critical. Safe food handling is important not only when preparing food but also when transporting and serving it. Spread the word about cooking and eating outdoors safely with these prewritten social media messages.

Nutrition

Updated Nutrition Facts Label Growing Rapidly in the Marketplace

A lot has changed since 1993 – the year the Nutrition Facts label was first introduced to provide important information on food and beverage packages. In the decades that have passed, portion sizes have changed and more is known about the relationship between nutrition and the risk of chronic diseases. And so, on May 20, 2016, the FDA announced the new Nutrition Facts label for packaged foods. The updated label highlights the information most needed for consumers to make informed food choices and maintain healthy dietary practices. Although the updated label is not required on food packages until January 2020 (with smaller manufacturers having an additional year to comply), recent market data indicates that approximately 30,000 products already carry the updated Nutrition Facts label (Label Insight, 2018).  With the rapid growth in manufacturers transitioning to the updated label, it’s a perfect time to encourage consumers to check out the New and Improved Nutrition Facts Label fact sheet and visit the Changes to the Nutrition Facts Label website to learn more.

Source: Label Insight Blog Post April 5, 2018: Growing New Label Adoption Provides Transparency for Consumers

Cosmetics 

Think Before You Ink

Tattoos are more popular than ever, but over the years, FDA has received hundreds of reports of adverse events involving tattoos. Encourage consumers to consider these questions to help them make the best choice before getting a tattoo.

And what about temporary tattoos? With summer in full swing, many people are planning beach vacations, and some are thinking about getting henna tattoos. Black henna is often used in place of traditional henna and has reportedly caused redness, blisters, loss of pigmentation, or even permanent scarring. For more information about tattoos, check out FDA’s Tattoos & Permanent Makeup Fact Sheet. And for other pre-vacation tips, check out these five tips for a healthy vacation.

Reporting Problems

Encourage consumers to report any adverse reactions or problems to MedWatch, FDA’s problem-reporting program. Reports can be submitted online, by telephone at 1-800-332-1088, or by contacting the nearest FDA consumer complaint coordinator.