Blog
Legal Checklist: How to Start a Food Business
Do you ever dream of selling your food products all over the country? While it is crucial to have a good product and business plan, you should also pay attention to the legalities. By following each step on this checklist and preparing yourself well, you will be able...
FDA Updates Guidance on Food Allergen Labeling
In November 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) released Draft Guidance on food allergen labeling entitled, “Questions and Answers Regarding Food Allergens, Including the Food Allergen Labeling...
Introducing Handel Food Law Intern Jinnie Lee
We are thrilled to introduce Hyo Jin (Jinnie) Lee, Handel Food Law's intern for the summer and fall of 2023. Jinnie will be a regular contributor to the blog. Read on to learn about her impressive background. Hello, I am Jinnie! I am a student at Temple University...
How do you protect your recipe?
How do you protect your recipe? What does it even mean to "protect" a recipe? As a food or beverage business, your recipe may be one of your most valuable business assets. So how do you prevent others from using your recipe to unfairly compete with you? Two ways:...
Don’t Copy Your Competitor’s Label Mistakes
“But my competitor says ‘X’ on its label. Why can’t I?” I often hear this right after I’ve told a client that ‘X’ is not allowed under FDA food labeling regulations. I have a standard response: “Do you see people driving 80 when the speed limit is 60?” The fact that...
Why did I become a food lawyer?
It started when I read Michael Pollan’s book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma. I always had an interest in food as someone who loves to cook and eat. Reading that book made me see food as central to so many things I care about: the environment, social justice, animal welfare,...
USDA Organic Seal Gains Superpowers from Trademark Law
Like Superman's distinctive "S," USDA's Organic Seal now has ® to signify its superpowers. The US Department of Agriculture recently announced that it registered the USDA Organic Seal with the US Patent and Trademark Office as a certification mark. (The mark was...
FDA’s Proposed New Definition of “Healthy” Raises Concerns
FDA’s proposal to redefine “healthy” as a nutrient content claim in food labeling takes a new approach to better align with nutrition science. But some types of healthy foods will not qualify to be labeled as “healthy.”
Minimizing the Risks of Food Labeling Litigation
Thanks to Startup CPG for inviting Lauren Handel to do this webinar on minimizing the risks of food labeling litigation. Watch the video to learn more about this type of litigation and what kinds of label claims and other issues are most commonly targeted by class...
New York Extends Labor Protections to Farmworkers
Farm workers are often exempted from labor laws that govern wages and hours, regulate working conditions, and guarantee the right to organize. But that is no longer the case in the state of New York, where the Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act (FLFLPA) was passed...