Food & Chemicals Unpacked Podcast

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Food & Chemicals Unpacked is your go-to podcast for hot topics in the food and chemical industry.

Join our hosts, Keller and Heckman Partners Mark Thompson and Katie Skaggs, as they provide a bird’s eye view of the emerging legal and scientific issues surrounding the food, chemical, packaging, and related consumer product industries in an easily digestible and accessible format.

Food & Chemicals Unpacked provides clear and concise updates on legislative developments, new regulations, and other non-governmental initiatives that impact these industries. Each episode presents critical information on these topics along with supporting resources from Keller and Heckman’s websites, including Packaginglaw.com, The Daily Intake (our food blog), and The Continuum of Risk (our tobacco and e-vapor blog).

Episodes

6.

This episode offers a roundtable discussion on the regulatory landscape surrounding “green claims” in the United States with Keller and Heckman partners Sheila Millar and JC Walker. This detailed conversation touches on numerous advertising claims of interest to brand owners that are currently under consideration by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in an effort to update its “Green Guides.” The FTC is currently accepting comments on key claims addressed in the Guides (e.g., “recyclable,” “recycled content,” “degradable,” “compostable,” and “carbon offset”), which are commonly leveraged by consumer brands. Sheila and JC also address the impacts that evolving state legislation and court rulings have on the use of green claims within the market.

Please see our show notes (here) for further information on the topics discussed and online articles with additional detail on these issues

5.

Extended Producer Responsibility: EPR You Ready?

The topic of this episode is Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs for packaging materials, which have begun to proliferate in the U.S. Four states have now implemented EPR programs, others have proposed legislation, and more states are expected to follow suit in the years to come.

Keller and Heckman Partner Rachel Bond joins our hosts to discuss EPR and related sustainability issues. Rachel provides insight into regulations, requirements, and exemptions in place for current EPR programs. Associate Caleb Holland also reports on EPR legislation, both at the federal and state level.

Please see our show notes (here) for further information on the topics discussed and online articles with additional detail on these issues.

4.

Blowing Smoke: FDA’s Evolving Regulation of Tobacco and Nicotine Products

This episode details the regulatory landscape for tobacco products and reports on current trends in the industry. Our team shares its knowledge of the process for obtaining authorization to market new tobacco products in the U.S. We also provide the inside scoop on industry-shaping litigation that Keller and Heckman has led. Finally, the episode discusses recent changes at FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products and how the changes might impact industry.

Please see our show notes (here) for further information on the topics discussed and online articles with additional detail on these issues.

3.

Off the Shelf: An Inside Look at the Infant Formula Shortage

In this episode, we discuss the current shortage of infant formula in the U.S. with Food and Drug Partner Rick Stearns. In February 2022, a recall of infant formula produced at a single U.S. facility contributed to a major shortage in the infant formula market. To date, FDA continues its efforts to mitigate the effects of this shortage. As the disruptions to infant formula supply now show signs of easing, we look into the underlying causes, trajectory, and FDA intervention. The episode covers FDA oversight of infant formula manufacturing, aimed at ensuring that consumers are presented with safe and quality products that provide suitable nutritional content. Our team also discusses the lasting impact these events may have on the market.

Please see our show notes (here) for further information on the topics discussed and online articles with additional detail on these issues.

2.

Chasing Arrows – The EU’s Plastic Recycling Scheme

Our second episode discusses an important development in Europe – a revision to the European Union’s rules on the use of recycled plastics in food packaging. This new law completely revamps how plastics recycling is regulated in Europe and will impact the entire supply chain, from recyclers to packaging manufacturers, and even everyday consumers. Our team also walks through some recent news on PFAS, some FDA pronouncements on genome-edited beef cattle and guacamole, as well as a major action by the sugar industry.

Please see our show notes (here) for further information on the topics discussed and online articles with additional detail on these issues.

1.

PFAS and Furious

Welcome to the first episode of Food & Chemicals Unpacked! Today’s episode focuses on the regulation of PFAS in food packaging applications. This incredibly important issue affects a huge number of products in various markets. We provide an overview of these chemistries and summarize developments in the United States at both the Federal and State level on PFAS regulation. Additionally, our team discusses some of the recent trade press that impacts food, e-cigarettes, and the chemical industry.

Please see our show notes (here) for further information on the topics discussed and online articles with additional detail on these issues.

Welcome to Food & Chemicals Unpacked

An introduction to our a la carte podcast covering all things relating to the food and chemical industries. Food & Chemicals Unpacked will help you dig into the legal requirements and science surrounding food, packaging, chemicals, tobacco products, and much more. Learn how these products are regulated and insights on current news and developments in this space.

About the Hosts

Mark Thompson

Mark Thompson counsels companies and trade associations on global compliance requirements applicable to finished foods, food additives, food packaging materials, cosmetics, commercial chemicals, and associated labeling in Asia, the Americas, and the European Union. He also advises clients on the regulation of drugs and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Asia.
Mark was based in the firm’s Shanghai Representative office from 2009 through 2016. During that time, he gained extensive experience and perspective on the regulatory scheme in China and throughout Asia.
View Mark's full bio.

Katie Skaggs

Katie Skaggs is an expert in the regulation of food contact materials in a host of jurisdictions including the U.S., EU, South America (particularly the MERCOSUR bloc), Canada, China, eastern Asia, India, the Middle East (GCC), Australia, and New Zealand. Katie assists companies in bringing to market new food contact materials, such as plastics, biopolymers, paper, adhesives, coatings, recycled materials, and components of these materials (antioxidants, colorants, and other additives and processing aids), through submissions to government agencies in the U.S. and abroad. She manages post-market issues for food contact substances, such as recalls and accidental adulterations, and advises on environmental claims for food contact materials, as well as compliance with state laws like California's Proposition 65. View Katie's full bio.