Companies Face Additional Federal Food Safety Measures
9/21/2009

Summary:

Stoel Rives attorney Ken Odza discussed in the ABA Journal the potential impact of proposed new U.S. Government food safety measures. Under the Food Safety Enhancement Act passed recently by the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would acquire broad new food safety powers, with authority to issue mandatory recalls, implement a risk-based inspection agenda, access and track information about food as it travels through the supply chain, and detain or block any food suspected of taint.

Odza said that litigation is likely to increase as a result of the FDA's new resources. He also believes that many companies are likely to struggle, at least initially, with these stricter requirements, including developing safety plans, disclosing business records when outbreaks occur and improving procedures for tracing products.

• Read the ABA Journal article
• Ken Odza blogs about the Food Safety Enhancement Act

"Hungry for Change" was published by the ABA Journal, September 2009.