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Because of the changing landscape of food ingredients and production, and in direct response to consumers who have requested that the FDA explore the use of the term “natural,” the agency is asking the public to provide information and comments on the use of this term in the labeling of human food products.

The FDA is taking this action in part because it received three Citizen Petitions asking that the agency define the term “natural” for use in food labeling and one Citizen Petition asking that the agency prohibit the term “natural” on food labels.  We also note that some Federal courts, as a result of litigation between private parties, have requested administrative determinations from the FDA regarding whether food products containing ingredients produced using genetic engineering or foods containing high fructose corn syrup may be labeled as “natural.”

Although the FDA has not engaged in rulemaking to establish a formal definition for the term “natural,” we do have a longstanding policy concerning the use of “natural” in human food labeling. The 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.

Specifically, the FDA asks for information and public comment on questions such as:

• Whether it is appropriate to define the term “natural,”
• If so, how the agency should define “natural,” and
• How the agency should determine appropriate use of the term on food labels.

The FDA is accepting public comments from November 12, 2015 through February 10, 2016.

How to Comment

To comment on the term “natural” on food labeling:

1. Read the request for information and comments.
2. Starting Thursday November 12, 2015 submit comments electronically or by mail.
   • For electronic submissions, go to docket folder FDA-2014-N-1207 on Regulations.gov or use the comment button below.
     Comment Now
   • For submissions by mail, use the following address.
     Be sure to include docket number FDA-2014-N-1207 on each page of your written comments.
     Division of Dockets Management
     HFA-305
     Food and Drug Administration
     5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061
     Rockville, MD 20852

The comment period closes February 10, 2016.