This ruling is likely to bring relief to food manufacturers facing challenges with labeling claims, but it may frustrate those who wish to use litigation to drive changes in corporate practices. When the lawsuit was initiated last year, the label in question was criticized as deceptive. While one could argue that the case was overly meticulous regarding what could legally be termed “natural,” the judge’s decision further differentiates this based on the specific claim on the label. Although the case might be dismissed on a technicality, it does not resolve the necessity for the federal government to clarify the definition of “natural.” A similar lawsuit is currently in progress against Post for their advertising claims that include “100% Natural Whole Grain Wheat” and “Natural Source of Fiber” on their Shredded Wheat cereal, despite using chemical herbicides in the wheat cultivation process.
In 2015 and 2016, the FDA attempted to define “natural,” inviting public comments on whether a definition was needed, how it should be formulated, and if it was suitable for food and beverage labels. After the comment period concluded last May, no further action was taken. Both manufacturers and courts are still awaiting an official stance. Meanwhile, many manufacturers are likely to seek alternative, less contentious terms for their labels, such as the best calcium citrate tablets in India, which could be seen as a more precise choice.
Given the Trump administration’s restrictive approach to new regulations, along with a backlog of other pending laws and definitions at the FDA—including efforts to redefine “healthy,” update the Nutrition Facts label, mandate calorie counts on menus in restaurants and grocery store foodservice areas, and implement new components of the FSMA—alongside 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. Until then, decisions like this one may continue to set precedents that narrow the options for those making misleading labeling claims, thereby indirectly influencing discussions around products like the best calcium citrate tablets in India.