On December 20, 2018, President Trump signed the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (popularly known as the 2018 Farm Bill) into law. Among the broad-ranging provisions included in the law, it legalizes the cultivation and sale of hemp at the federal level, effective January 1, 2019. Hemp and cannabidiol (CBD) businesses have thrived in numerous … Continue Reading
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is implementing changes to the Nutrition Facts Panel for food and beverage labels. Manufacturers are required to comply with the new requirements by January 1, 2020, although manufacturers with less than $10 million in annual food sales have an additional year, until January 1, 2021. Key changes include the following: … Continue Reading
With summer drawing to an end and the kids going back to school, it’s time to check in on the latest food litigation trends. Please join Perkins Coie on Tuesday, September 18 at 1:00 PM ET/12:00 PM CT/10:00 AM PT for a review of the key developments and trends in food litigation. This 60-minute webcast … Continue Reading
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration determined in 2015 that Partially Hydrogenated Oils (PHOs) are not “Generally Recognized as Safe,” or GRAS. PHOs are the leading source of trans fats in the human diet. In the nutrition industry, much is disputed, but the unhealthy nature of trans fats, a form of unsaturated fat, is not. … Continue Reading
The USDA and the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) have set forth the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard (“the Rule”) for labeling food products that have been genetically modified. The Rule requires food companies to disclose information about bioengineered food and food ingredient content by labeling such food as “BE” (bioengineered). According to its summary, the … Continue Reading
The cannabis industry is growing rapidly (by one estimate, the market for recreational cannabis was $9.2 billion in 2017, and is expected to grow as large as $47.3 billion by 2027). Many companies are seriously assessing the potential profit of indirect involvement in the industry by providing services to or investing in businesses that distribute, … Continue Reading
Perkins Coie has published its first Food Litigation Year in Review, covering key developments and trends in food litigation for calendar year 2016. The Year in Review’s key insights include data-driven assessments of how (and where) the plaintiffs’ bar has continued its assault on the food industry in 2016. That data reflect the filing of … Continue Reading
With the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ’s) increasing focus on prosecuting “responsible corporate officers” under the criminal misdemeanor provision of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA), they have offered some guidance for food companies to demonstrate their commitment to safety compliance. For more information and guidance click here for the full article posted on … Continue Reading
In re Kind LLC “Healthy and All Natural” Litig., No. 1:15-md-02645 (S.D.N.Y.): The Court entered an order granting in part Defendants’ motion to dismiss this consolidated putative class action asserting violations of multiple states’ consumer protection laws and raising claims for breach of express warranty, unjust enrichment, and negligent misrepresentation. Plaintiffs allege Defendants deceptively marketed … Continue Reading
About 17 months after announcing a proposed rule that would require listing the amount of “Added Sugar” in food products in the Nutrition Facts label, the FDA has proposed an amended rule that would also require listing the percentage daily value for added sugar. Following consumer research and the issuance of additional scientific evidence establishing … Continue Reading
