IACM Educational Webinar Series

The International Association of Color Manufacturers (IACM) is excited to announce the IACM Educational Webinar Series. In a series of three webinars, IACM will focus on a number of food color-related topics, including the labeling of ‘natural’ colors, the role of Codex in developing global color regulations, and the challenges industry faces to the safety of colors

The webinars will be interactive, allowing for users to ask questions to the webinar speakers. All webinars will be recorded and available for download purchase, with complimentary downloads for all registrants.
Webinars in the Series:

  • June 26, 2013: Labeling Implications of Natural Colors
  • The class of color additives typically referred to as natural is defined by the US FDA as exempt from certification. While most of these colors would be considered as natural in other regulations globally, FDA regulations do not consider any color that is added to a food product as natural, no matter what the source of the color. Consequently, the term ‘natural color’ is not a permitted label statement. This inconsistency creates confusion among companies creating colors and products for a global market. This webinar will feature a regulatory specialist from the FDA to speak on why all food colors are labeled as artificial in the US and what is meant by exempt from certification. Additionally, a legal expert will speak on what is allowable in the labeling of ‘natural’ colors domestically from both a front of pack and ingredient statement point of view, and provide information on appropriate claims that can be made regarding the labeling of colors in FDA regulated products.

    Speakers:

    • Judy Kidwell, Consumer Safety Officer, Office of Food Additive Safety, US FDA
    • John Hallagan, The Law Offices of John B. Hallagan, P.C (former Scientific Advisor to IACM)
  • September 24, 2013: International Color Regulations: Focus on Codex
  • Developing countries around the world look to Codex to guide the development of regulations for food additives, including colors. It is increasingly important that a color additive is included in the General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA) for its use to be accepted worldwide. This webinar will introduce attendees to the Codex Alimentarius Commission, particularly the work of the Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA), which oversees the GSFA. Codex standards are the benchmarks against which national food regulations are evaluated, and industry must be engaged in the Codex decision-making process to ensure that international standards are based on sound science and promote fair practices in trade.

    Speakers:

    • Dan Folmer, Ph.D., US FDA, Member of US delegation to the CCFA
    • Maia M. Jack, Ph.D., Founder/Principal, CPGglobal, LLC
  • November 19, 2013: The Science Behind the Safety
  • Despite thorough reviews by scientists and regulators and decades of safe use, public interest groups and media outlets regularly question the safety of food colors. This webinar will focus on the science behind the safe use of colors, and provide an update on the work the industry is doing to ensure that the FDA has the most accurate use level information in order to obtain more precise exposure assessments. A communications expert will offer a view on the public relations challenges that industry is likely to face in the coming years and offer tips on how best to be prepared to respond.

    Speakers:

    • Lindsey Loving, Senior Director, Food Ingredient & Technology Communications, International Food Information Council
    • Dr. Joe Borzelleca, Emeritus Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University (IACM Lifetime Service Award recipient)