Voila! The Pop-Up Timer for Turkeys Saved the DayBy Adam SussmanIntellectual Property, December 2025You can thank Eugene Beals for the meat thermometer you used this Thanksgiving to ensure your turkey is cooked to perfection.
The Flinn ReportBy Elaine SpencerFood Law, October 2025The Department of Public Health has proposed various amendments to the Manufacturing, Processing, Packing or Holding of Food Code, relating to facilities, permits, and fees; and the Departmen of Agriculture has also proposed various amendments to the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, regarding plant monitoring systems and fees.
Jessica Culpepper: The Problem of Agricultural ExceptionalismBy Christine GrilloFood Law, October 2025The concept of "agricultural exceptionalism" could potentially stunt lasting policy change in the agriculture and farming industries. Jessica Culpepper, Executive Director of FarmSTAND, shares her insights into the issues facing reform.
New Law Will Open Markets and Processing Options for Illinois FarmersBy Liz Moran StelkFood Law, October 2025House Bill 2196 removes unnecessary barriers that have held back poultry producers, including increases in the number of birds processed per year on-farm, selling directly at farmers markets, and removal of 30-day ownership rule for consumers to process poultry and livestock for personal, family, or cultural use.
Voila! The Pop-Up Timer for Turkeys Saved the DayBy Adam SussmanFood Law, October 2025You can thank Eugene Beals for the meat thermometer you will use this Thanksgiving to ensure your turkey is cooked to perfection.
‘Bloated, Expensive, Unsustainable’ USDA Reorganizing, Shrinking Its Washington PresenceBy Dave FusaroFood Law, September 2025Calling USDA “a bloated, expensive and unsustainable organization,” Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins last week announced a reorganization of the Dept. of Agriculture, including moving many employees and functions out of the Washington, D.C., area.
Editor’s Plate: Make FDA Great (And Authoritative) AgainBy Dave FusaroFood Law, September 2025President Trump, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Marty Makary have taken their victory laps over the past two months as one food or beverage processor after another fell in line and agreed to remove petroleum-based colors. Now it's time for that holy trinity to return the favor and strong-arm the states into repealing laws that ban not just colors but, in some cases, 50 ingredients. Or pre-empt them.
The Time for Digitalization in Food & Beverage Is NowBy Andy HanacekFood Law, September 2025The food & beverage digital age is here, and for those processors who were waiting to see other processors swim successfully before jumping into the pool, now is the time to do more than just dip a toe in the shallow end.
Victory! Federal Court Orders Terminated USDA Farmer and Community Grants To Be ReinstatedFood Law, September 2025The United States District Court for the District of Columbia issued an order granting the restoration of six USDA grants for farmers and communities that support tree planting, growing food in underserved communities, training new farmers, and helping farmers adopt climate-friendly practices.
FDA To Revoke 52 Obsolete Standards of Identity for Food ProductsBy Dave FusaroFood Law, August 2025The FDA announced on July 16 that it is revoking or proposing to revoke 52 food standards of identity after concluding they are obsolete and unnecessary. The standards are for canned fruits and vegetables, dairy products, baked goods, macaroni products and other foods.
Tariff Mitigation Strategies: 20 Options for ManufacturersFood Law, August 2025Tariffs are truly “A Tale of Two Cities.” Some manufacturers are celebrating, thanks to higher domestic demand and an opportunity to sell unused capacity. For others, tariffs have significantly hurt business—resulting in painful price increases, inventory valuation challenges, stalled M&A, and reduced demand.
That’s a Food Job!Food Law, August 2025Learn about resources to explore different career opportunitites in the food industry, from podcast recommendations to a job board dedicated to food careers!
Urge Illinois Attorney General To Hold USDA AccountableFood Law, August 2025Review the Petition to Attorney General Kwame Raoul, asking for legal action against the Untied States Department of Agriculture for breaking its contract with the State of Illinois for the Local Food Purchase Assistance program, known as IL EATs.
257 Food and Ag Groups Demand Transparency and Representation in Future MAHA ReportsBy Dave FusaroFood Law, July 2025257 state and national associations with some relevance to food & beverage on June 17 sent a letter to Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. asking transparency from and representation in the development of future Make America Healthy Again reports.
The Flinn ReportFood Law, July 2025The Flinn Report is a weekly summary of regulatory actions of State agencies published in the Illinois Register and action taken by the Illinois General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR). The Flinn Report honors founding JCAR member Representative Monroe Flinn, and is designed to inform and involve the public in changes taking place in agency administration.
ICE Raids Glenn Valley Foods in Omaha, NebraskaBy Andy HanacekFood Law, July 2025U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and federal law enforcement officers executed a federal search warrant and raided an Omaha, Neb., meat-processing plant the morning of June 10, according to numerous news reports.
The Time for Digitalization in Food & Beverage Is Now, by Food ProcessingBy Andy HanacekFood Law, July 2025The food & beverage digital age is here, and for those processors who were waiting to see other processors swim successfully before jumping into the pool, now is the time to do more than just dip a toe in the shallow end.
7th Annual Bock Food Law and Policy ConferenceBy Robert AndersonFood Law, June 2025Save the date for the 7th Annual Bock Food Law and Policy Conference on Friday, September 19, 2025, at the Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School!
Flinn Report on May 16, 2025Food Law, June 2025The Flinn Report, dated May 16, 2025, includes proposed and adopted rules that may be of interest to the Food Law Section.
Perspective: A Farmer’s Legacy Shouldn’t Be a Tax Nightmare for Their KinBy Amanda ZaluckyjFood Law, June 2025The article warns that the upcoming reduction in the federal estate tax exemption could force farm families to sell land to pay taxes. With farm wealth tied up in land and equipment, the lower exemption creates uncertainty and threatens generational farms. It urges families to plan ahead despite unclear future tax laws.
What Is Mentorship and Where to Find It in the Food Industry?Food Law, June 2025When asked about their career journeys, many successful professionals credit mentorship as a defining factor in their growth. No one advances in a vacuum; those who actively seek and apply guidance from experienced individuals set themselves apart. From academic advisors to professional mentors, having someone to offer insights, challenge blind spots, and encourage risk-taking can make all the difference.
Cell-Cultured Meat Updates: State Bans, Labeling Requirements, and Regulatory ClarificationsBy Emily StoneFood Law, May 2025Cell-cultured meat is a food product that is produced through the practice of growing livestock stem cells outside of an animal and harvesting the cells to make food. Over the past year, state legislators have passed legislation prohibiting the manufacture and sale of cell-cultured meat and enacted laws that create labeling requirements for such food products. Additionally, on the federal side, the EPA, FDA, and USDA recently published a joint regulatory plan for biotechnology that included plans for the regulation of cell-cultured meat.
Perspective: The U.S. Produces Plenty of Food — Other Factors Make Us Food InsecureBy Amanda ZaluckyjFood Law, May 2025Did you know that almost 40 percent of all food in the United States goes to waste? Food that is safe to eat, nutritious, and available goes in our collective trash cans. We throw away 133 billion pounds of food each year. It’s a staggering statistic, especially when you consider that some of our neighbors are food insecure.
A Steak by Any Other Name: How States Are Shaping the Future of Cultivated MeatFood Law, May 2025In the first quarter of 2025, state legislatures across the United States have proposed bills regulating cell-cultured meat, including both labeling requirements and sales restrictions. Cell-cultured meat, also known as “lab-grown meat” or even “fake meat”, is produced by cultivating animal cells in a controlled environment, offering a potential alternative to traditional livestock farming.
The Flinn ReportFood Law, April 2025The Flinn Report is a weekly summary of regulatory actions of State agencies published in the Illinois Register and action taken by the Illinois General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR).
Introducing the Food, Race, and Equity Initiative: Part IBy Heliya IzadpanahFood Law, April 2025A UCLA Law Student describes her experiences with the Critical Race Studies program. "The Resnick Center has tried to incorporate discussions of diversity, equity, and inclusion into its offerings. It has featured an agroecology class, a food and social justice issues podcast series, lessons on food access, and a diverse global health collaborative," says the student.
one of the few Food Law programs then existing in the nation.
