This regular publication by DLA Piper lawyers focuses on helping clients navigate the ever-changing business, legal, and regulatory landscape. FDA rolls out Phase II of long-term sodium reduction plan. FDA has released new,...more
Could cultured meat be available in your U.S. grocery store in the new year? A previous article focused on the topic of “cultured meat” – meat made from the cells of animals and grown in a nutrient medium. While no cultured...more
The United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts has entered a stay in a lawsuit challenging Massachusetts’s Question 3 as it applies to whole pork meat, in light of a pending a Supreme Court case regarding...more
In March of this year the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) jointly announced a series of “listening forums” that would help gather real world input from...more
USDA and DOJ have announced shared principles to drive antitrust enforcement in the meat and poultry supply chains. On January 3, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack and Attorney General Merrick...more
On Friday, July 9, 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order (EO) 14036, “Promoting Competition in the American Economy”. In the ensuing months, federal agencies have begun to implement the EO’s 72 initiatives to address...more
In recent years, consumers have expressed a growing interest in knowing where their food comes from and in sourcing that food directly from the producer. This style of marketing – popularly coined “farm-to-table” or...more
The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division continues to target a sprawling cartel investigation of the chicken industry. In its most recent action, the Justice Department announced an indictment of Koch Foods and four...more
M-E-A-T has become a complicated word. A variety of alternative meat products are on the market or in development. Plant-based meat substitutes are already commonplace in our grocery stores and restaurants. Some of these...more
Introduction: Alpha-Gal Syndrome - Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is an allergy to red meat and other products made from mammals. In addition to red meat allergy, AGS can also manifest as frequent and deadly-if-untreated...more
On Monday, Northern District of Illinois Judge Virginia M. Kendall denied three motions to dismiss a putative class action alleging that the nation’s leading turkey suppliers—including Butterball, Cargill, House of Raeford,...more
As the Bilzin Sumberg team previously reported in June 2020, the Department of Justice (DOJ) indicted four executives from Pilgrim’s Pride and Claxton Poultry for their participation in a conspiracy to fix prices and rig bids...more
In the midst of the pandemic, meat processing facilities have struggled to meet demand while protecting employees. Governmental regulations, orders and guidelines often have seemed to be inconsistent with one another. Even...more
On August 13, 2020, Governor Jay Inslee issued Proclamation 20-67: Food Production Workers Paid Leave. Proclamation 20-67 modifies previous proclamations to prohibit any food production employer from continuing to operate...more
3-D biomeat: Is it finger-lickin’ good? Biomeat, a.k.a., cultured or cell-based meat, is an emerging area of food science that food manufacturers, food retailers, and restaurant chains are currently monitoring as consumers...more
LEGISLATION, REGULATIONS & STANDARDS - New York Legislature Passes Bill To Ban PFAS In Food Packaging - The New York legislature has passed SB 8817, which would prohibit “the distribution, sale, and offer for sale in...more
FDA Enters New Phase Of FSVP Enforcement - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has entered a new phase of enforcement for the Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) regulation, the legally required due...more
On June 3, 2020, the Department of Justice (DOJ) indicted executives from Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation and Claxton Poultry Farms—two of the country’s largest chicken producers. The criminal action was filed in the District of...more
In Washington - The House will be in session on Wednesday and Thursday and is expected to vote on two bills dealing with the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) giving small businesses more flexibility in the use of the...more
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently issued a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the potential use of the Defense Production Act (DPA) with regard to...more
LEGISLATION, REGULATIONS & STANDARDS - FDA Releases Reopening Guidelines for Food Establishments - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published a food-safety checklist for retail food establishments that...more
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) recently issued a COVID-19 industry guidance intended for facilities that process or pack meat, dairy, or produce to support a safe and clean environment for workers. In...more
In a filmed interview published by The National Provisioner on May 14, 2020, Christine Tenley shared her thoughts on how meat processing plants can strike the balance between fulfilling their crucial role in the food supply...more
Late Tuesday, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue sent letters to state governors and meat and poultry processing company leaders setting forth USDA’s expectations for continued operations during the...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have jointly released coronavirus-related interim guidance for meatpacking and meat...more