grocery industry
FDA Bans Brominated Vegetable Oil in Food Products
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is revoking the regulation authorizing the use of brominated vegetable oil in food. Brominated vegetable oil is a vegetable oil that is modified with bromine. The agency concluded that the intended use of BVO in food is no longer considered safe after the results of studies conducted in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health found the potential for adverse health effects in humans.
The FDA has regulated BVO as a food additive since the agency removed it from the codified list of Generally Recognized As Safe or GRAS substances in 1970. As authorized, it was used in small amounts to keep the citrus flavoring from floating to the top in some beverages, and manufacturers were required to list BVO, or the specific brominated vegetable oil such as brominated soybean oil, in the ingredients list if it was used. Few beverages in the U.S. contain BVO.
The FDA is taking this action as part of our regulatory authority over ingredients added to food, which includes reassessing previously evaluated food ingredients and addressing safety concerns. Reassessing the safety of food ingredients as new, relevant data become available, is a priority for the FDA and a key part of our food safety mission.
The rule is effective on Aug. 2. The compliance date for this rule is one year after the effective date, to provide the opportunity for companies to reformulate, relabel, and deplete the inventory of BVO-containing products before the FDA begins enforcing the final rule.
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Herring Returns to Giant Food as Chief Merchant
Giant Food, the leading greater Washington, D.C. regional grocery chain, has hired Tonya Herring as chief merchant effective immediately. In her role, Herring will oversee all merchandising strategy and execution across Giant Food.
With more than 30 years of retail grocery experience, Herring most recently served as the senior vice president of omnichannel development for Peapod Digital Labs, which supports Ahold Delhaize USA. There, Herring led the commercial evolution of Ahold Delhaize USA’s omnichannel ambitions. Prior to that, Herring was the senior vice president of merchandising for Giant Food, where she was responsible for strategic leadership, business plan design and merchandising organization including category management, pharmacy, pricing, promotion and merchandising planning.
“The entire Giant Food family is thrilled to welcome Tonya back to our team,” said Ira Kress, president of Giant Food. “With her deep merchandising expertise, she will bring a wealth of knowledge and leadership to the Giant Food brand in this role.”
Throughout her experience, Herring has held multiple roles including over two decades at Safeway Inc., where her positions included vice president of category development, group director category development for consumer brands and regional director.
“As a Maryland local, Giant Food has been part of my community for years,” said Herring. “I am ecstatic to be continuing my career back at Giant and look forward to implementing positive changes within our merchandising sector.”
Tonya lives in Odenton, Md., with her husband, Brent, and enjoys their leisure time walking their dogs, golfing, bike riding and visiting family in their home state of California.
Since opening its first location over 88 years ago in Washington, D.C., in 1936, Giant has been an integral part of the communities and customers it serves. Giant is committed to being a Better Neighbor and has designated four main giving pillars that address local Food Insecurity, Military Support, Pediatric Cancer Research, and Social Equality.
Giant is headquartered in Landover, Md., and operates 164 supermarkets in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia with approximately 20,000 associates. Included within the 164 stores are 154 full-service pharmacies and 28 Starbucks locations. Giant fits all the way today’s busy customers want to shop – in-store or online.
With 162 Giant Pickup locations and delivery options available in all its markets, customers have even more convenient options to get the best products and prices whenever and however they choose.
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Sprouts Healthy Communities Applications Open
The Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation announced that organizations can now apply for funding for programs that advance nutrition education, nutrition access and wellness for children and adults in the communities where Sprouts operates. Sprouts will award a total of $3 million to approximately 300 local organizations.
“Our 32,000 team members want to see our communities thrive. Supporting local organizations that focus on wellness and nutrition access is an important part of what we do,” said Jack Sinclair, chief executive officer of Sprouts Farmers Market.
The Foundation’s mission is focused on improving health outcomes by supporting nutrition education, nutrition access, and wellness programs. Each of the grants will provide organizations with $5,000 to $10,000 in funding. The grant categories include:
- Sprouting School Gardens – Funding for new or existing school-based gardening programs that provide students with hands-on learning opportunities that bring nutrition education to life for students
- Growing Healthy Kids – Funding for community-based programs focused on children’s nutrition access, nutrition education, and health and wellness
- Wellness Across the Lifespan – Funding for community-based programs focused on adult health and wellness
“Our goal is to help children and adults connect with vital resources, learn new skills, and improve their health and wellness,” said Lyndsey Waugh, executive director of the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation. “We look forward to working with over 300 organizations to drive meaningful impact in our communities.”
Since 2015, the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation has awarded over $20 million in grants to organizations that are working on the front lines of nutrition education and wellness. An estimated 3 million children participate in programs supported by the Foundation each year and Sprouts expects to more than double its grant programs in the year ahead.
The deadline to apply is July 15. For more information on the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation visit www.sprouts.com/about/sprouts-foundation/
True to its farm-stand heritage, Sprouts offers a unique grocery experience featuring an open layout with fresh produce at the heart of the store. Sprouts inspires wellness naturally with a carefully curated assortment of better-for-you products paired with purpose-driven people. The healthy grocer continues to bring the latest in wholesome, innovative products made with lifestyle-friendly ingredients such as organic, plant-based and gluten-free. Headquartered in Phoenix, and one of the largest and fastest growing specialty retailers of fresh, natural and organic food in the United States, Sprouts employs approximately 32,000 team members and more than 400 stores in 23 states nationwide. To learn more about Sprouts, and the good it brings communities, visit about.sprouts.com.
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