2026 Articles

2025 Joint Midyear Meeting Photos February 2026 The Illinois State Bar Association and the Illinois Judges Association proudly co-hosted the 2025 Joint Midyear Meeting on December 11–12 at the JW Marriott Chicago, bringing members of the legal community together for two days of connection and collaboration.

2026 Annual Meeting Photos August 2026 ISBA members and guests gathered at the Ritz-Carlton in St. Louis on June 11–12, 2026, for the Annual Meeting, which featured outstanding CLE programming, networking, and business meetings. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the Annual Meeting a success!

Agricultural Exceptionalism, Environmental Injustice, and U.S. Right To Farm Laws By Danielle Diamond, Loka Ashwood, Allen Franco, Lindsay Kuehn, Aimee Imlay, & Crystal Boutwell April 2026 While the environmental justice movement has gained traction in the United States, the relationship between agri-food systems and environmental injustices in rural areas has yet to come into focus. United States agricultural exceptionalism and rural environmental justice can be examined through right-to-farm laws, demonstrating the justification for these statutes transfers power from rural communities to industrial agriculture by safeguarding agribusiness interests and certain types of production from lawsuits and liability.

California Law Banning ‘Sell By’ Labels Takes Effect By Andy Hanacek August 2026 A new California law allows food processors to use only “Best if Used By” or “Use By” labels (or both), instead of "Sell By" labels, on products sold in the state, hoping to eliminate confusion and food waste.

Don’t Taste Your Hands: How Not To Invent a Blockbuster Sweetener Like Constantin Fahlberg By Adam Sussman April 2026 Saccharin is used to sweeten drinks, candies, baked goods, tobacco products, excipients, and as a masking agent in medicines. Since saccharin’s discovery by Fahlberg as the first artificial sweetener, additional sweeteners have been developed including aspartame, steviol glycoside, and sucralose.

Farmers in New York Fight To Protect Soil as Solar Expands By Jake Zajkowski February 2026 Solar energy is often touted by environmentalists as a valuable tool in aiming for a greener future; however, farmers may experience significant negative impacts from the rapid expansion of solar energy. But for every farmer wary of panels, there’s another who sees them as a lifeline. And it is in that divide between farmer against farmer that solar energy has exposed agriculture’s fiercest new conflict: the battle within.

A Final Dismissal in First Ultraprocessed Foods Lawsuit By Dave Fusaro August 2026 A federal court in Pennsylvania delivered the apparent final victory to major food & beverage companies who were accused of creating ultraprocessed foods they knew would be addictive and would create health problems.

Flinn Report August 2026 The Department of Agriculture adopted an emergency amendment to address safety concerns regarding animals entering Illinois from areas impacted by the New World Screwworm.

Food Law in the States—2025 Update By Emily Stone June 2026 Hot topics in 2025 state legislative sessions across the country included discussion and amendments on issues such as raw milk, cottage food, food additives, alternative proteins, and SNAP benefits.

Food Law’s 2025 “Top Ten” By Emily Stone June 2026 2025 brought several food law issues to the forefront, including the MAHA movement, SNAP waivers, federal food ingredient oversight, alternative proteins, and more.

Importing Food Products Into the United States February 2026 Under provisions of the U.S. law contained in the U.S. Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, importers of food products intended for introduction into U.S. interstate commerce are responsible for ensuring that the products are safe, sanitary, and labeled according to U.S. requirements. Imported food products are subject to FDA inspection when offered for import at U.S. ports of entry.

Importing Peruvian Food Products Into Illinois: Key Legal Checkpoints for U.S. Counsel By Dr. Alberto Miranda August 2026 When an importer, distributor, or Illinois lawyer evaluates bringing Peruvian food products into the U.S. market, the multi-layered legal analysis should begin long before the first shipment arrives. Pertinent questions include: Under what regulatory framework will the product enter, and which agency will govern it? Where will liability concentrate if the documentation, labeling, or foreign-supplier controls fall short?

Member Appreciation & Recognition Reception Highlights June 2026 On May 14, 2026, ISBA members and colleagues gathered at the beautiful Morton Arboretum in Lisle to celebrate the 2025–26 ISBA Award Recipients, connect with fellow legal professionals, and enjoy an evening of meaningful conversation and camaraderie.

Purdue Releases 2025 Large Commercial Producer Survey Results August 2026 The 2025 Large Commercial Producer Survey from Purdue University's Center for Food and Agricultural Business is now available. Conducted every five years, the study captures insights from more than 1,150 large U.S. farming operations, making it one of the industry's leading benchmarks for understanding commercial producers' business priorities, purchasing behavior, technology adoption, and growth plans.

Selling U.S. Food Products in Peru: Key Legal Risks in Labeling, Distribution, and Trademark Protection By Dr. Alberto Miranda June 2026 Peru is a meaningful market for U.S. food and agricultural exports, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS) continues to describe Peru as a relevant destination for consumer-oriented products and processed food ingredients. But a U.S. company entering Peru should not assume that the regulatory path will resemble the U.S. model.

Three 2026 Predictions for Food and Beverage Products From Mintel By Andy Hanacek February 2026 Learn more about the predicted 2026 food trends that are expected to dominate the food industry this year: maxxing out and diversity in; retro rejuvenation; and intentionally sensory. Jenny Zegler, director of Food and Drink for Mintel, joins the podcast this time around to dig into the details of three predictions that Mintel has made for 2026 for the food and beverage industry.

U.S. FDA & USDA Food Regulation Updates By Sandhya Sashikumar April 2026 Regulatory changes from the FDA and USDA are reshaping how products are formulated, labeled, and marketed. Leveraging regulatory compliance software can help brands monitor and adapt to new food safety rules efficiently, avoiding costly recalls and protecting consumer trust.

Victory! Federal Court Orders Terminated USDA Farmer and Community Grants To Be Reinstated April 2026 Major win: A preliminary injunction was granted in a lawsuit against the USDA, requiring the agency to restore wrongfully terminated grants and funding that support tree planning, growing food in underserved communities, training new farmers, and helping farmers adopt climate-friendly practices.

Viewpoint: How Close Are We To Seeing “Influencers” Use AI To Fake AG Images? By Amanda Zaluckyj February 2026 With the progressive rise of AI, we’re starting to see the downside of artificial intelligence, and not just from pranks gone too far. We’ll soon be living in a world where the truth is even more convoluted, and we won’t be able to believe what we see with our eyes. Does our society have the critical thinking skills necessary to handle that?