• where experts go to learn about FDA
  • Foods

    • ACI’s Advanced Summit on Food Law Regulation, Compliance, and LitigationJanuary 27th, 2026

      The American Conference Institute’s (“ACI”) milestone 10th Anniversary edition of its Advanced Summit on Food Law, Compliance and Regulation is scheduled to take place from April 28–29, 2026 at the Hilton Chicago/Magnificent Mile Suites in Chicago, IL. Since ACI’s last summit, the food industry continues to …

    • ACI’s 44th Annual FDA Boot CampJanuary 23rd, 2026

      The American Conference Institute’s (“ACI”) FDA Boot Camp returns March 25-26, 2026, at the New York City Bar, New York, NY.  This foundational training brings together life sciences attorneys, in-house counsel, and compliance professionals to dissect FDA law, policy, and enforcement trends. What You’ll Gain: A clear …

    • Ninth Circuit Sends USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (“AMS”) Back to Drawing Board on Some Aspects of the BE Labeling RuleNovember 10th, 2025

      As we previously reported, nearly four years ago, the Natural Grocers, Citizens for GMO Labeling, Label GMOs, Rural Vermont, Good Earth Natural Foods, Puget Consumers Co-op, and the Center for Food Safety (Plaintiffs) filed a complaint against AMS challenging the final rule implementing the National …

    • California’s New Allergen-Disclosure Law: A Sign of Things to Come?October 31st, 2025

      On October 13, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law SB 68, titled “Allergen Disclosure for Dining Experiences Act,” officially creating a statewide requirement for certain restaurants to disclose major food allergens on their menus. What SB 68 Requires SB 68: Requires disclosure of the nine major food …

    • Kessler Petition Seeks Revocation of GRAS Status for Processed Refined CarbohydratesAugust 13th, 2025

      News coverage of the citizen petition submitted by Dr. David Kessler has been somewhat breathless, so it was nice to read the document first hand when it was posted yesterday in the docket at regulations.gov – and you should do the same. Spoiler alert! In …

    • Leading the Way: Highlights from the 12th Annual ACI Women Leaders in Life Sciences Law SummitAugust 6th, 2025

      Boston was once again the hub for female leadership in life sciences law this summer as attorneys, executives, and policymakers gathered for the 12th Annual American Conference Institute (“ACI”) Women Leaders in Life Sciences Law Summit on July 30–31, 2025. Hosted at the Seaport Hotel, the …

    • Defining “Ultra-Processed” Food: FDA Wants Your InputAugust 4th, 2025

      Since 2009, the term ultra-processed food (“UPF”) has gained recognition as there have been studies that suggest a relationship between consumption of UPFs and chronic diseases.  The term frequently focuses on processing and composition without consideration of food groups and nutritional composition.  At this time, …

    • Color Food Beautiful: FDA Approves Gardenia Blue and Continues Push to Phase OutJuly 24th, 2025

      On July 14, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Gardenia Blue, a plant-based color additive, while simultaneously making clear to industry that the Agency encourages food manufacturers to accelerate their phasing out of the use of the synthetic dye FD&C Red No. …

    • Federal Hiring Shake-Up (Again): What the Latest Executive Action and Supreme Court Decision Mean for IndustryJuly 14th, 2025

      On July 7, 2025, President Trump, via Executive Order (“EO”), issued a presidential memorandum and accompanying fact sheet directing major changes in federal civilian hiring, including extending the federal civilian hiring freeze through October 15, 2025.  Under the titular theme “Ensuring Accountability and Prioritizing Public …

    • State-Led Food Transparency: Texas and Louisiana Lead the ChargeJuly 10th, 2025

      Two southern states are taking bold steps to change the way they approach food labeling—and they’re not mincing words.  In a growing movement aligned with the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) agenda, Texas and Louisiana have each passed sweeping new laws requiring clearer warnings and …

    • Last Friday was a Good Day for Those Who Want to Litigate Against the Federal GovernmentJune 23rd, 2025

      Last Friday, the Supreme Court delivered a trio of decisions making it easier to litigate against the federal government.  The facts and law in each case matter, and as is often the case when the Supreme Court “decides” an issue, much remains to be seen.  …

    • It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s an UPDATE on Operation Stork SpeedMay 19th, 2025

      Operation Stork Speed is a go! On March 18, 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) launched a significant initiative called Operation Stork Speed to bolster the availability and safety of infant formula in the United …

    • Commissioner Makary Charts a New Course for FDA at FDLI Annual ConferenceMay 16th, 2025

      Dr. Marty Makary took the stage on Thursday at the Food and Drug Law Institute’s Annual Conference, continuing the tradition of Commissioners speaking at this event, but with a tone and tempo distinctly his own. Now firmly in the chair after the agency’s controversial RIFs—which he …

    • While FDA Suffers Staffing Cuts, Nondelegation Case in SCOTUS Is Latest Legal Challenge to Curb Agency PowersApril 4th, 2025

      Last June, the United States Supreme Court issued four landmark decisions that curbed executive agency powers. Those decisions are changing the way agencies, including FDA, exercise their rulemaking and enforcement authorities. Regardless of your position on the correctness of the holdings or the reasoning behind …

    • Governmentally Recognized as SafeApril 3rd, 2025

      That’s a play on an old acronym, in service of a point. A few weeks ago, HHS released a press release stating that FDA had been directed “to explore potential rulemaking to revise its Substances Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) Final Rule and related guidance …