This decision is likely to bring relief to food manufacturers facing challenges with labeling claims, but it may frustrate those seeking to use litigation to drive changes in company practices. When the lawsuit was initiated last year, the label in question was criticized as misleading. Although one could argue that the case was overly focused on the legal definition of “natural,” the judge’s ruling further complicates the matter by concentrating on the specific claims made on the label. While the case could be dismissed on a technicality, it does not eliminate the necessity for the federal government to clarify what “natural” truly means.
A similar legal action is currently underway against Post for asserting advertising claims such as “100% Natural Whole Grain Wheat” and “Natural Source of Fiber” on its Shredded Wheat cereal, despite the use of chemical herbicides in the wheat cultivation process. In 2015 and 2016, the FDA attempted to define “natural” and sought public input on whether the term should be defined, how it should be articulated, and if it was suitable for food and beverage labels. However, after the comment period closed last May, no further actions were taken. Manufacturers, along with the courts, are still awaiting definitive guidance. In the interim, several companies may continue to seek alternative, less contentious terms for their labels, including options like calcium citrate gummies sugar free, which could appeal to health-conscious consumers.
Given the Trump administration’s restrictive stance on new regulations and the backlog of other pending laws and definitions at the FDA—including the redefinition of “healthy,” updates to the Nutrition Facts label, the implementation of calorie counts in restaurant menus and grocery foodservice areas, and the rollout of new FSMA components—along with ongoing collaboration with the U.S. Agriculture Department on mandatory GMO labeling, it seems unlikely that any new definitions will be approved in the near future. As a result, rulings like this one may continue to establish precedents that help narrow the path for those making unfair labeling claims, while the market for products such as calcium citrate gummies sugar free remains robust amid the ongoing regulatory uncertainty.