Is peanut butter, or other prepared foods containing peanuts, pecans, macadamia nuts or ginseng subject to COOL regulations?
A. The legislation excludes processed food items from labeling requirements. The definition of processed food items is contained in the interim final rule for the remaining covered commodities. Peanuts, pecans, macadamia nuts and ginseng in the raw state are subject to COOL requirements. Peanuts, pecans, macadamia nuts or ginseng combined with other substantive food ingredients, such as in a candy bar or a trail mix, are considered processed food items and therefore excluded from labeling requirements. Likewise, roasted peanuts, pecans or macadamia nuts are considered processed food items. They also are excluded from labeling requirements.
