FDA Extends Comment Period on Use of the Term "Natural"

06 Jan 2016 --- In direct response to requests from the public, the FDA has extended the comment period for the Use of the Term “Natural” on Food Labeling. The comment period will now end on May 10, 2016, rather than the end of February, as initially communicated. Due to the complexity of this issue, the FDA is committed to providing the public with more time to submit comments. The FDA will thoroughly review all public comments and information submitted before determining its next steps.

As stated in its original announcement on, FDA is requesting comment on the use of the term natural in the labeling of human food products because of the changing landscape of food ingredients and production, and in direct response to consumers who have requested that FDA explore the use of the term.

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. The agency also notes that some federal courts, as a result of litigation between private parties, have requested administrative determinations from FDA regarding whether food products containing ingredients produced using genetic engineering or foods containing high fructose corn syrup may be labeled as “natural.”

Although FDA has not engaged in rulemaking to establish a formal definition for the term “natural,” it does have a long-standing policy concerning the use of “natural” in human food labeling, considering it 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. FDA also did not consider whether the term “natural” should describe any nutritional or other health benefit.

Specifically, 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.