[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 88 (Friday, May 6, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27161-27162]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-09750]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

[Docket No. FDA-1998-P-0074]


Grated Parmesan Cheese Deviating From Identity Standard; 
Amendment of Temporary Marketing Permit

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is amending the 
temporary permit issued to Kraft Foods Inc. to market test a product 
designated as ``100% Grated Parmesan Cheese'' that deviates from the 
standards of identity for parmesan cheese and grated cheeses. Kraft 
Foods Inc.'s temporary permit is amended to identify Lactalis Heritage 
Dairy, Inc. (LHD) as the permit holder. This amendment will allow the 
permit holder to continue to test market the product and collect data 
on consumer acceptance.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marjan Morravej, Office of Nutrition 
and Food Labeling (HFS-820), Center for Food Safety and Applied 
Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, 5001 Campus Dr., College Park, 
MD 20740, 240-402-2371; or Alexandra Jurewitz, Office of Regulations 
and Policy (HFS-024), Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, 
Food and Drug Administration, 5001 Campus Dr., College Park, MD 20740, 
240-402-2378.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the Federal Register of April 6, 1999 (64 
FR 16743), we issued a notice announcing that we had issued a temporary 
permit to Kraft Foods Inc. (now a part of Kraft Heinz, 200 East 
Randolph St., Suite 7600, Chicago, IL 60601), to market test a product 
identified as ``100% Grated Parmesan Cheese.'' We issued the permit to 
facilitate market testing of a product that deviates from the 
requirements of the standard of identity for parmesan cheese (21 CFR 
133.165) and grated cheeses (21 CFR 133.146) in that the product is 
formulated by using a different enzyme technology that fully cures the 
cheese in 6 months rather than 10 months.
    In the Federal Register of December 29, 2000 (65 FR 83040), we 
issued a notice announcing that we were extending the temporary market 
permit issued to Kraft Foods Inc. The extension allows the applicant to 
continue to measure consumer acceptance of the product and assess the 
commercial feasibility of the product, in support of

[[Page 27162]]

a petition to amend the standard of identity for parmesan cheese. The 
new expiration date of the permit will be either the effective date of 
a final rule amending the standard of identity for parmesan cheese that 
may result from the petition or 30 days after denial of the petition.
    In 2011, Kraft Foods Inc. spun off its North American grocery 
business to a new company called Kraft Foods Group. In 2015, Kraft 
Foods Group and H.J. Heinz Company merged to become Kraft Heinz. In 
September 2020, Kraft Heinz entered into an agreement to sell its 
natural, grated, cultured, and specialty cheese businesses in the 
United States, including its Kraft parmesan cheese business, to B.S.A. 
S.A., the parent company of the Lactalis Group (Lactalis) and its 
subsidiary, LHD. As of November 29, 2021, LHD has assumed 
responsibility for production and sale of all parmesan cheese subject 
to the temporary permit.
    Under our regulations at 21 CFR 130.17(f), we are modifying the 
temporary permit issued to Kraft Foods Inc. for ``100% Grated Parmesan 
Cheese'' to identify LHD, 540 West Madison St., Suite 300, Chicago, IL 
60661, as the permit holder. All other conditions and terms of this 
permit remain the same.

    Dated: April 29, 2022.
Lauren K. Roth,
Associate Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2022-09750 Filed 5-5-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4164-01-P