Food safety is fundamental to the health of our nation and your business. From agricultural enterprises to food processors, food distributors, and grocery stores, businesses involved in the development, distribution and sale of food products need legal counsel that can help them manage the risks associated with producing, delivering and selling this most basic of commodities.
The attorneys of McGuireWoods’ food safety practice wrote the book on food safety — literally. Two of our partners are the authors of Food Safety Law (Law Journal Press, 2010), the essential treatise on food-related legislation, regulation and litigation. Chambers, the international rating service for attorneys, ranks McGuireWoods’ food and beverage team as one of the top Food & Beverages: Regulatory & Litigation practices in the United States. Our food safety lawyers have advised companies on some of the largest and most prominent food recalls in U.S. history, and our national litigators have defended food manufacturers, suppliers, restaurants, and packaging entities in high-profile and potentially costly cases alleging foodborne illness outbreaks.
We defend and counsel clients on a host of issues relating to foodborne illnesses, including the management of complex, class action litigation, multidistrict litigation and the defense of individual personal injury actions. We provide guidance on product recalls, regulatory compliance, labeling issues, governmental investigations, and commercial disputes with vendors, wholesalers and retailers, first- and third-party insurance issues and claims, and media relations. We also defend clients against allegations of criminal violations of USDA and FDA regulations.
Over the years, we have developed a strong network of relationships with professionals in the fields of microbiology, HACCP, manufacturing, medicine, and epidemiology, among many others. Access to these resources enables us to assess and respond quickly and effectively to regulatory inquires and legal allegations when and where they arise.