Blog Archives

Ninth Circuit Brings Clarity to Made in the USA Labeling

Thanks to the California legislature and the Ninth Circuit’s recent unpublished opinion in Fitzpatrick v. Tyson Foods, food manufacturers and distributors in California can label their products “Made in the USA,” even if the products contain certain percentages of foreign-made

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Posted in Food Manufacturer

Lanham Act Claims Are Not Precluded by Compliance with the FDCA

In POM Wonderful LLC v. Coca-Cola Co., (June 12, 2014), the U.S. Supreme Court confirmed that companies can bring unfair competition actions under the Lanham Act even when their competitors have complied with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA).

Posted in California, False Advertising, Food and Drug Administration, Food Drug and Cosmetic Act, Food Manufacturer, Labeling Claims, Lanham Act, Preemption, Regulation

Raising “Cane” in Labeling Claims

Class action plaintiffs again allege that the labeling on Chobani’s Greek yogurt violates FDA regulations and misleads consumers, even though a federal court in California dismissed a similar labeling class action earlier this year.  The New York complaint filed in

Posted in "All Natural", Class Action, Evaporated Sugar Cane, False Advertising, Food and Drug Administration, Food Drug and Cosmetic Act, Food Manufacturer, Labeling Claims, Preemption, Sugar Substitutes

State GMO Labeling Laws: Friend or Foe?

Despite Vermont’s passage of its GMO labeling law and other states’ consideration of similar statutes, food manufacturers continue to support uniform federal legislation over the hodgepodge state-by-state approach that is developing. Pessimists among us might say that the FDA has

Posted in "All Natural", Class Action, Food and Drug Administration, Food Manufacturer, Genetically Modified Organism, GMO, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Labeling Claims, Regulation

Here We Go Again: Primary Jurisdiction and Deference to FDA

We have been here before:  in an attempt to capitalize on the ambiguities and uncertainties in product labeling, the plaintiffs’ bar focuses on phrases and ingredients for which there is little FDA guidance.  Last year, the industry saw many lawsuits

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Posted in Class Action, Evaporated Sugar Cane, False Advertising, Food and Drug Administration, Food Manufacturer, Genetically Modified Organism, GMO, Labeling Claims

Leading the Charge: Vermont Mandates GMO Labeling by 2016

While some states have passed GMO-labeling laws which contain a triggering-clause before they go into effect, Vermont has officially become the first state to pass a law, without any triggering-clause, requiring food manufacturers to label food as containing genetically modified

Posted in "All Natural", Class Action, Drug and Cosmetic Act, Food Manufacturer, Genetically Modified Organism, GMO, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Labeling Claims, Preemption, Regulation

Cozen O’Connor to Attend Snack Food Association’s Legislative Summit

Cozen O’Connor has been at the forefront of defending consumer class action lawsuits involving food and beverage labeling for years.  On April 9th and 10th we will be taking the fight from the courtroom to Capitol Hill at the Snack Food

Posted in "All Natural", Class Action, Food and Drug Administration, Food Drug and Cosmetic Act, Food Manufacturer, Nutrition Labeling and Education Act

Putting the IP in IPAs

As the Super Bowl approaches, you may be thinking about beer: either deciding what to drink during the big game or wondering if a beer commercial will once again be the best ad.  Beer companies are frequently noted for their

Posted in Brand Protection, Craft Beer, Food Manufacturer, Intellectual Property, Trademark

7th Circuit: Nothing “Loko” About Denying Defense Based on Liquor Liability Exclusion

In Netherlands Insurance Company v. Phusion Projects, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the insurer of the makers of Four Loko has no duty to defend it in lawsuits alleging the alcoholic beverage caused serious injury and death. 

Posted in Duty to Defend, Food and Drug Administration, Food Manufacturer, Food Safety, Insurance Coverage, Liability Policy, Liquor Liability Exclusion, Policy Exclusions, Public Health

Michigan Appeals Court Rules Against Coverage for Uncontaminated but Seized Cheese

A Michigan appellate court recently ruled that a commercial property insurer properly denied coverage for the cost of cheese seized by the government that could not be returned to market.  In this unpublished opinion, the three-judge panel upheld the trial

Posted in Acts or Decisions Exclusion, Commercial Property Insurance, Contamination, Food Manufacturer, Food Recall, Food Safety, Governmental Action Exclusion, Insurance Coverage, Listeria, Loss of Market Exclusion
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Cozen O’Connor has a national team of attorneys experienced in handling food contamination and product recall coverage matters related to first-party, third-party and specialty policies. The firm also developed a Food, Beverage & Nutritional Products Industry Team to provide advice and counsel to a wide range of companies connected directly and indirectly to the food and beverage industry.
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