Click to enlarge label

SAN FRANCISCO — Hampton Creek, Inc. on Dec. 17 said it had reached an agreement with the Food and Drug Administration that will allow the company to keep the “Just Mayo” name for its spread and dressing product even though it does not include eggs. Under the agreement, Hampton Creek has made changes to the product’s label, according to the company.

“F.D.A. and the firm met to discuss the issues cited in the (Aug. 12) warning letter and worked together to address them,” the F.D.A. said Dec. 17. “The firm committed to making labeling changes that satisfactorily address the concerns noted in F.D.A.’s correspondence. Therefore the F.D.A. considers the issues cited in the warning letter to be resolved and will issue a close-out letter soon.”

Josh Tetrick, c.e.o. and founder of Hampton Creek

“This isn’t a story about winning or losing,” said Josh Tetrick, chief executive officer and founder of San Francisco-based Hampton Creek. “It’s a story about creating a just food system, a food system that is healthier and stronger and more aligned with our values. It’s a story about a group of professionals and a young company thoughtfully engaged in that mission.”

An Aug. 12 warning letter from the F.D.A. said Just Mayo and Just Mayo Sriracha products from Hampton Creek were in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act because they do not meet the definition of the standard for mayonnaise. The F.D.A. said the use of the term “‘mayo”’ in the product names and the image of an egg may be misleading to consumers because it may lead them to believe that the products are the standardized food, mayonnaise, which must contain eggs. The Aug. 12 warning letter cited other problems with the products, including a “cholesterol free” claim and implied heart health claims.