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Ask a Food Lawyer - My New Blog Series
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Have you ever wondered:
* What does “natural” mean on food labels?
* Do corporations really have free speech right to advertise to children?
* Why are some foods containing hydrogenated oils still labeled “zero grams trans-fat?”
* Why can’t we just sue the food industry for making people sick?
These are just some of the questions that I’ve received from curious readers. For this new blog series, I will answer these and other questions related to the exciting and still emerging, but critical area of food law. Many of the issues impacting our food choices everyday are complicated, often because of complex laws behind policies ranging from nutrition labels to organic standards. (You can thank lawyers for causing some of the confusion.) From industry misinformation to a lack of government transparency to incomprehensible legalese, people who care about food are understandably confused. I want this series to take some of the mystery out of the policies behind what we eat.
Because I am not an expert in every facet of food law, I’ll be drawing on my colleagues in the field to help answer questions I can’t. As I’ve said before<http://appetiteforprofit.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6d92905ea6348fcc3f1b61a3e&id=a69f91d57f&e=cfef0e14a2>, lawyers play an important (yet largely invisible) role in the good food movement. Lawyers are behind every food labeling law, every regulation to improve food safety or organic standards, even the expansion of farmers markets. And people should know who these lawyers are and what they do. Lawyers do much more than file lawsuits; in fact most lawyers I know don’t work in courtroom settings at all.
What This Series is Not, a.k.a. Legal Disclaimer
While “Ask a Food Lawyer” is a place for questions about the law, neither I (nor any other contributor) is giving legal advice. This won’t be a place to get legal advice, for example, about your new cupcake truck or backyard henhouse. These posts are for informational and educational purposes only, and do not constitute legal advice nor are we entering into an attorney-client relationship. And, since its not legal advice and is posted online, it’s neither confidential nor subject to attorney-client privilege.
Also, most legal opinions are subject to different interpretation by other lawyers. It may surprise you to learn there is often not one “right answer” and lawyers have been known to argue! The point of this series is to raise awareness about how the law applies to food and get some discussion going, not necessarily to have the last word. OK, enough of that. Assisting me with this project is Neil Thapar, an attorney based in San Francisco whose interests include food law and policy. His previous legal experience includes genetically engineered food litigation and animal welfare policy. He is also an amateur farmer. You can find him on LinkedIn<http://appetiteforprofit.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6d92905ea6348fcc3f1b61a3e&id=ad47f52c65&e=cfef0e14a2> and Twitter<http://appetiteforprofit.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6d92905ea6348fcc3f1b61a3e&id=9bd6ffdae4&e=cfef0e14a2>.
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Check out my first two blog posts in this series
Why foods made with partially hydrogenated oils labeled “zero grams trans fat”?<http://appetiteforprofit.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6d92905ea6348fcc3f1b61a3e&id=b173483436&e=cfef0e14a2>
Short Answer: Because FDA says it’s OK to lie to you. Labeling is one of the more complex areas of food law, full of statutes, regulations, exemptions, and exceptions. In 1990, Congress updated food labeling law with the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act, which gave the Food and Drug Administration authority to require specific types of nutrition labels on most food products. The handy Nutrition Facts panel you see on foods today displaying calorie, carbohydrate, fat, protein, and other nutrient amounts is the result of FDA implementing this law. Read more...<http://appetiteforprofit.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6d92905ea6348fcc3f1b61a3e&id=076fead509&e=cfef0e14a2>
What does “natural” mean on food labels?<http://appetiteforprofit.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6d92905ea6348fcc3f1b61a3e&id=d5aea57aa2&e=cfef0e14a2>
Short answer: Next to nothing. With the nation finally waking up to the sad reality that truly healthy food doesn’t come in a box, food manufacturers are desperate to keep shoppers fooled into thinking highly processed food products are good for them. How do companies get away with this? Because the federal government lets them. Read more...<http://appetiteforprofit.us4.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=6d92905ea6348fcc3f1b61a3e&id=0dfec70a7b&e=cfef0e14a2>
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Submit a question
So, do you have a question about food law? Then here is your chance. Email me your questions at [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> (subject line = Ask a Food Lawyer), or post them to Twitter @MicheleRSimon<http://appetiteforprofit.us4.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=6d92905ea6348fcc3f1b61a3e&id=5a8f9a856d&e=cfef0e14a2>. You can also find me on Facebook<http://appetiteforprofit.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6d92905ea6348fcc3f1b61a3e&id=87f7e9d16c&e=cfef0e14a2>. Every two weeks or so, I’ll post a question that I’ve received along with an answer. (I may not be able to answer all questions.) You can follow along on my blog, Facebook, or on Twitter with the hashtag, #AskaFoodLawyer.
Share with friends
Please help me spread the word about my new series. Do you know anyone who might have a question about food law? Share this blog series with them! You can forward this email to your networks, post about the blog series on your Facebook page, and tweet about it using the hashtag #AskaFoodLawyer. Thanks as always for your interest and support.
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