Overview

Title

To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require labeling of food products containing insects, and for other purposes.

ELI5 AI

H. R. 7974 wants all food packages to say on the front if they have bugs or anything made from bugs, so people know what they're eating. This new rule will start 180 days after it becomes law, but there are still questions about how it's going to work and what happens if someone doesn't follow the rule.

Summary AI

H. R. 7974 aims to change the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to ensure that any food products containing insects, insect parts, or products derived from insects must clearly indicate this on the front label. The bill requires that this labeling be done in a prominent way so consumers can easily see it. This requirement will take effect 180 days after the bill becomes law and will apply to all food products sold in interstate commerce.

Published

2024-04-12
Congress: 118
Session: 2
Chamber: HOUSE
Status: Introduced in House
Date: 2024-04-12
Package ID: BILLS-118hr7974ih

Keywords AI

food labeling insect ingredients federal food, drug, and cosmetic act misbranded food consumer protection food safety food industry compliance international trade economic implications food labeling requirements

Sources

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
1
Words:
257
Pages:
2
Sentences:
7

Language

Nouns: 82
Verbs: 22
Adjectives: 12
Adverbs: 1
Numbers: 8
Entities: 18

Complexity

Average Token Length:
4.19
Average Sentence Length:
36.71
Token Entropy:
4.52
Readability (ARI):
20.20

AnalysisAI

General Summary of the Bill

The bill, H.R. 7974, proposes an amendment to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Its main purpose is to mandate clear labeling on food products that contain insects, insect parts, or products derived from insects. If the bill is enacted, food producers will need to ensure that such ingredients are prominently disclosed on the front labels of their products. The requirement would take effect 180 days following the bill's enactment, giving manufacturers time to comply with the new regulations.

Summary of Significant Issues

While the intent to enhance transparency regarding food ingredients is clear, the bill leaves several critical issues unaddressed:

  1. Enforcement and Compliance: The bill lacks details on enforcement mechanisms or penalties for not adhering to the labeling requirements. Without specified consequences for non-compliance, the effectiveness of the legislation might be undermined.

  2. Clarity of Definitions: Phrases like "insects, insect parts, or products derived from insects" may be ambiguous or not clearly understood by consumers. This could lead to confusion and inconsistent labeling practices.

  3. Labeling Prominence: The bill does not define what constitutes a "prominent manner" in terms of displaying the information. This lack of specificity might result in varied interpretations, potentially affecting the bill’s objective to inform consumers effectively.

  4. Transition Period: The proposed 180-day transition period may not afford all companies sufficient time to update their labeling processes, particularly if they need to overhaul distribution or production operations. This could lead to supply chain disruptions or non-compliance issues.

  5. Economic Implications: The requirement could impose significant costs, especially on smaller businesses, as they may have limited resources to adapt their packaging and labeling systems.

  6. International Trade Considerations: The bill does not address how these labeling requirements will interact with international trading partners, which could lead to compliance issues for imported and exported goods.

Impact on the Public and Stakeholders

For the general public, this bill has the potential to improve transparency and help consumers make more informed decisions about the food products they purchase. It would particularly benefit individuals with specific dietary restrictions or allergies related to insect-derived ingredients.

However, the proposed requirements could have mixed effects on various stakeholders:

  • Food Producers: For large-scale producers, the financial and logistical burden of changing packaging might be manageable. In contrast, smaller businesses could face significant challenges due to the costs and complexities of altering their labeling and packaging systems within the allotted timeframe.

  • Regulatory Bodies: Agencies responsible for enforcing these new requirements may need additional resources and guidelines to ensure compliance across the food industry.

  • Consumers and Special Interest Groups: Advocates for food transparency and individuals with dietary restrictions may view the bill positively, as it acknowledges and addresses specific concerns regarding food labeling.

In summary, while the bill aims to promote transparency and inform consumers about insect-derived ingredients in foods, its effectiveness may be limited by the lack of enforcement measures, ambiguous definitions, and potential cost implications on businesses. Addressing these concerns could strengthen the impact and acceptance of the proposed legislation.

Issues

  • The section on misbranded food with respect to insect ingredients specifies labeling requirements but does not address enforcement mechanisms or penalties for non-compliance, which may hinder effective implementation and compliance (Section 1).

  • The language used to define 'insects, insect parts, or products derived from insects' might not be clear to all consumers, potentially leading to confusion and improper labeling (Section 1).

  • There are no specified guidelines for what qualifies as a 'prominent manner' in terms of the visibility of labeling information, which could lead to inconsistencies and consumer confusion (Section 1).

  • The transition period of 180 days may not provide sufficient time for all food companies to comply with the new labeling requirements, potentially causing supply chain issues or non-compliance (Section 1).

  • The amendment does not account for the potential economic implications or costs for food producers in restructuring their labeling processes, which might affect smaller businesses disproportionately (Section 1).

  • The bill does not address the implications for food exports and imports, which could lead to confusion and potential trade barriers in international commerce (Section 1).

Sections

Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.

1. Misbranded food with respect to insect ingredients Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require that food containing insects or insect-based ingredients must have clear labeling on the front of the package. This requirement will start 180 days after the law is enacted.