FDA Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop – Navigating the New Administration
In this episode of Food & Chemicals Unpacked, we dive into the current adjustments experienced at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) so far under the Trump administration. Keller and Heckman Partner George Misko joins us to discuss the future of food safety regulations, including the downsizing of HHS under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., potential changes to the GRAS process, and FDA’s ongoing post-market review program. We also discuss Keller and Heckman’s Paper Packaging Law Seminar coming up in May 2025.
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23:57
Making-up for Lost Time: FDA’s Increased Oversight of Cosmetics
In this episode of Food & Chemicals Unpacked, we are joined by guest speakers, Partners Cynthia Lieberman and Rick Stearns, who dive into the recent evolution of FDA's cosmetics regulations. They explore the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MOCRA), including new requirements relating to adverse event reporting, Good Manufacturing Practices, and other topics. The discussion also provides insights on how cosmetics and personal care product manufacturers and their suppliers can ensure that finished products (makeup, soaps, sunscreen, shampoo, etc.) maintain compliance with MOCRA and other current legal obligations in the United States.
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38:54
Let's Pack It Up – 2024 Packaging Year in Review
In this episode, we reflect on key legal, scientific, and industry developments from 2024 that impact packaging and some insights on what to expect and prepare for in the upcoming year across the food and chemical industry.
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31:07
Trash Talk: The EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)
This episode of Food & Chemicals Unpacked explores the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) currently being advanced in the European Union (EU). Keller and Heckman Partner Hazel O’Keeffe joins us to provide an overview of the proposed regulation, covering its main objectives and potential impacts on food packaging, cosmetics, and other consumer products. This talk addresses topics such as recyclability, “substances of concern”, packaging minimization targets, and the PPWR’s interplay with the Single Use Plastics Directive (SUPD). Hazel also shares some valuable insights on the steps companies can take to stay ahead of these compliance and sustainability challenges.
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29:43
Economic Adulteration: Secrets in the Sauce
In this episode, we cover "economic adulteration," which is intentionally changing a food product's composition for an economic motive (e.g., removing or substituting a valuable ingredient or part of a food). This is often referred to as “food fraud." Keller and Heckman Partner Tony Pavel joins us to provide an overview of the history of economic adulteration in the U.S. and more globally, and how this phenomenon has contributed to the evolution of food safety laws. We cover a few different examples of economically adulterated food products, which shed light on the ongoing challenges that regulators, food safety experts, and supply chain managers face in addressing this issue. We also discuss what companies should be doing to mitigate risk.
Food & Chemicals Unpacked is your go-to podcast for hot topics impacting 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 will present critical information on these topics along with supporting resources from Keller and Heckman’s website blogs, including Packaginglaw.com, The Daily Intake (our food blog), and The Continuum of Risk (our tobacco and e-vapor blog).
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