Food Safety Forum
A Comprehensive Look at Chemical Food Safety: Bridging State, Federal and Legal Perspectives
September 17, 2024
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Eastern Time
The safety and regulatory oversight of chemical food safety are important issues, involving the scientific community and toxicologists, state- and federal-level regulators and the food industry. Stakeholders are discussing topics such as authoritative rights, rigorousness of the current federal chemical review system and need for a predictable regulatory framework. At the same time, these ingredients provide a critical role in ensuring a safe and quality food supply and federal authority provides a predictable regulatory framework.
In this event, AFFI is convening a compelling conversation about:
- The current federal regulatory approach to chemical safety review and how the U.S. Food & Drug Administration provides safety and regulatory assurances;
- The role of individual states in implementing chemical bans and the legal implications for all parties;
- A path forward that both allows for innovation and is protective of public health.
Another Special Opportunity for Food Safety Professionals:
Co-Host Organization:
International Fresh Produce Association
Partner Organizations:
Media Partner:
1:00 – 1:10 p.m. EDT
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Food makers use additive ingredients to provide tangible benefits, such as to reduce the risk of spoilage and food waste, ensure a consistent quality and enhance the nutritional value. At the same time, individual state governments are implementing specific ingredient bans while FDA develops a framework for reassessing and confirming safety. In this introduction, AFFI’s Dr. Donna Garren will introduce the current scientific, regulatory and legal dialogues related to chemical food safety.
Speaker:
Dr. Donna Garren, Executive Vice President of Science and Policy, American Frozen Food Institute
1:10 – 1:50 p.m. EDT
Session 1: Chemical Food Safety – State Bans on Chemicals
Explore the controversial landscape of state-level bans on chemicals, focusing on ingredient safety and food additives. This session will dive into the importance of federal regulations, how state-level bans impact the food industry, and the consumer safety implications.
Speakers:
Wendelyn Jones, Executive Director, Institute for the Advancement of Food and Nutrition Sciences (Moderator)
Dan Colegrove, Partner, Prism Group
Scott Faber, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, Environmental Working Group
Trent Norris, Partner, Hogan Lovells US LLP
Topics Covered:
Overview of state bans on chemicals and food additives
The contentious debate over pre-emption and regulatory power
Case studies and real-world impacts on businesses and consumers
Supply chain implications and challenges in compliance
1:50 – 2:30 p.m. EDT
Session 2: Federal Perspectives on Chemical Food Safety
Speakers:
Sharon Mayl, Partner, DLA Piper LLP (US), (Moderator)
Alex K. Eapen, Director – Scientific & Regulatory Affairs – North America, Cargill
Kristi L. Muldoon Jacobs, Director, Office of Food Additive Safety, FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
Jensen Jose, Regulatory Counsel, Center for Science in the Public Interest
Joseph Zagorski, Assistant Professor, MSU Center for Research on Ingredient Safety
Topics Covered:
Federal regulations on food additives and colors: Are they sufficient?
FDA reforms and their potential to transform food safety
Post-market review processes: Strengths and weaknesses
2:30 – 3:00 p.m. EDT
Session 3: Legal Perspectives on Chemical Food Safety
This session will delve into the legal ramifications of chemical food safety regulations, particularly focusing on the impacts of state bans and the FDA’s withdrawal of approvals of food ingredients. We will explore how these rapidly changing regulations affect food companies, the legal challenges they face, and the strategies they can develop to produce safe foods while ensuring regulatory compliance, potentially on a state-by-state basis. Expect a thought-provoking discussion that provides a comprehensive understanding of the legal and practical implications of these issues and equips companies with the tools to adapt and thrive in this dynamic landscape.
Speakers:
Andrea Bruce, Senior Counsel Global Regulatory, Hogan Lovells US LLP (Moderator and Panelist)
Riette van Laack, Director, Hyman, Phelps and McNamara
Topics Covered:
Legal challenges and compliance issues in food safety
Making and defending ingredient claims in a litigious environment
Real-world examples and strategies for navigating regulatory complexities
3:00 – 3:05 p.m. EDT
Closing Remarks and Future Directions
The Food Safety Forum will conclude with a summary of the key takeaways from the forum and discuss future directions and collaborative efforts for advancing chemical food safety. Join Dr. Donna Garren as she stresses the need for continued dialogue and innovation to protect public health and maintain industry standards