FDA allows eggless Just Mayo to keep its name as long as labeling changes are made
Image of a Just Mayo jar in 2013 from Hampton Creek’s Facebook page.
The Food and Drug Administration is allowing the maker of a sandwich spread to call the product “Just Mayo” even though it doesn’t meet the federal definition for mayonnaise.
The FDA gave its approval, but said the maker of Just Mayo, Hampton Creek, must change the product labeling, report the New York Times and the Washington Post.
The federal definition requires mayonnaise to contain eggs, an ingredient missing from Just Mayo. The eggless spread uses Canadian yellow peas, which are produced with less energy, water and land than eggs, according to corporate founder Joshua Tetrick.
Just Mayo’s logo is an egg cracked by a pea shoot. The FDA initially warned Hampton Creek that the name and logo may be misleading, but reversed course, Hampton Creek announced on Thursday.
Just Mayo will increase the type size of labeling that says Just Mayo is “egg-free.” The new label will also explain that “Just” means guided by reason, justice and fairness.
The maker of Hellmann’s and Best Foods mayonnaise had alleged last year in a false-advertising and fraud lawsuit that Just Mayo is confusing consumers. The suit was dropped weeks later after “generating a huge amount of publicity for Hampton Creek and outrage from Just Mayo fans,” the Washington Post says.
