In honor of U.S. Thanksgiving on November 22, this column is devoted to food law.  Here are just a few helpful resources:

Westlaw

• Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics (Database Identifier: JAGREECOM)

This journal provides original and food-centric articles on topics like natural resources, rural development, and economics.

• Nutrition Reviews (Database Identifier: NUTRITREVS)

Geared toward students, researchers and professionals in fields such as medicine, public health and nutrition, this journal features articles on nutrition policy, as well as applied and experimental nutrition science.

• FDA Enforcement Report (Database Identifier: FHTH-FDA)

The FDA records its regulatory efforts in this periodical. It includes prosecutions, seizures, injunctions, and recalls.

Lexis

• Food and Drug Law Weekly (File FDLWK)

Written for attorneys, this periodical keeps readers updated on the latest in food and drug regulation, not only from the FDA, but also CDC.

• Biomass and Bioenergy (File BIOM&E)

This journal focuses on renewable sources of food and energy with articles in the form of research papers, reviews and case studies.

• Trends in Food Science and Technology (File ETDSTC)

The intent of this periodical is to bridge the gap between specialized scientific journals and trade magazines by presenting new research developments and their possible applications in food science and nutrition.

Books

• A Consumer’s Guide to Food Regulation & Safety by James O’Reilly (ISBN 0199730210)

Written for the layperson, O’Reilly explains food and drug laws, as well as what should be done if consumers come to harm from food.

• The Little Book of Foodie Law by Cecil C. Kuhne III (ISBN 9781614383109)

A quirky book from the ABA, this publication addresses some interesting anecdotal food fights in the legal world, from food patents to litigation over poor restaurant reviews.

• The A-Z Encyclopedia of Food Controversies and the Law by Elizabeth M. Williams and Stephanie Jane Carter (ISBN 9780313364488)

Covering not only American law, but also international regulations, Williams and Carter introduce food law via court cases, with subject matters like religious food laws, food labeling, obesity and fair trade.

Websites of Interest

• Harvard Food Law Society (http://www3.law.harvard.edu/orgs/foodlaw/)

In the effort to create a sustainable and balanced food supply, the Harvard Food Law Society participates in projects such as promotion of locally-grown food, and analyzing the lack of uniform laws in food expiration date labels.  They also have a special advocacy organization in the Mississippi Delta region that is working to improve food policy and legislation in the area.

• United States Agricultural & Food Law and Policy Blog  (http://www.agandfoodlaw.com/)

Maintained by the National Agricultural Law Center at the University of Arkansas and the American Agricultural Law Association, this blog provides stakeholders in the agricultural community with updated information and research.

• The Sustainable Economies Law Center (http://www.theselc.org/food/)

Because SELC believes that centralized ownership of food production by large conglomerated organizations leads to resource waste and a misguided philosophy of food production, they promote localized ownership of the food system.  Some of their resources include: legal clinics, a library for those interested in urban agriculture, policy advocacy and promotion of co-op farming.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my colleagues.

Jennifer Dismukes Vail
Diversity Committee Chair, SLA Legal Division