Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Should Lawyers Drive Food Safety?

A recent plethora of news items-all involving food companies with pending court cases -has prompted me to ask, What do you think? Should lawyers drive food labeling, ingredients and safety?

Both NBC and ABC have featured stories this week regarding a lawyer well known for his successful suit against "big tobacco" ( "Lawyer Who Beat Big Tobacco Targets Food Industry" from ABC News and "Lawyers From Suits Against Big Tobacco Target Food Makers" from NBC.)

The media is also becoming important in the food safety debate. Recently the New York Times called on the White House to release new food safety rules.
We must also consider other recent headlines - California GMO Labeling Law/ Prop. 37 that would require the labeling of most foods made with genetically modified organisms (GMO) as well as the soda ban in New York City.
There is also the PLoS Medicine Series on Big Food. Articles featured in this series include:

PLoS Medicine Series on Big Food: The Food Industry Is Ripe for Scrutiny

The PLoS Medicine Editors. PLoS Medicine:
Published 19 Jun 2012 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001246 

Manufacturing Epidemics: The Role of Global Producers in Increased Consumption of Unhealthy Commodities Including Processed Foods, Alcohol, and Tobacco

David Stuckler, Martin McKee, Shah Ebrahim, Sanjay Basu
PLoS Medicine:.Published 26 Jun 2012 | info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001235 

There is plenty out there to read and just as many opinons. What's yours?
 

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