Trans Fat Labeling Extension Requested for Bakers

WASHINGTON (November 16, 2005) - On behalf of the baking industry, the American Bakers Association here is asking the U.S. Food & Drug Administration for a six-month extension of the Jan. 1 trans fat labeling deadline. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita limited “the availability of resin used to make plastic bags for breads,” said Lee Sanders, vice president of government relations and public affairs, ABA. The association also cited hurricane-related obstacles to distributing imported trans fat substitutes. In a second letter submitted by Sanders early this month, she requested — at the very least — a six-month period of enforcement "discretion" for bakers. While it awaits word from the FDA, the ABA is urging members to file for individual extensions. “The blanket approach seemed to be the most cost effective for the [FDA] and the entire industry,” said Sanders. “So far there have been over 200 [extension requests] from [individual] bakers and ice cream manufacturers.”

Julie Gallagher

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