GETTING food right

RESOLVING food safety issues

ANTICIPATING food safety risks

NAVIGATING food safety challenges

Going All-In for Food and All-Out for Those Who Produce It

Food Industry Counsel's Food Lawyers and Consultants provide food safety legal and regulatory consulting services exclusively for food industry clients, helping them anticipate, navigate and resolve their most pressing food safety challenges.

FIC's Food Lawyers are dedicated to serving food industry clients exclusively. Whether you are the world’s largest food company, or a small firm looking to protect your business, we are here to help. FIC has decades of experience representing food companies throughout the United States and around the world.

Our Legal and Consulting Services

Food Safety Consulting

For decades, FIC's Food Safety Lawyers have helped food industry clients strengthen their food safety programs and contain risk. When food companies improve their food safety systems, they are more likely to avoid recalls and also ensure the continued protection of their brand.

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Food Regulatory & Legal Compliance

For decades, FIC's Food Regulatory Lawyers have helped food companies comply with complex food safety regulations. Regardless of the USDA or FDA compliance issue you may be facing, Food Industry Counsel can help you quickly resolve even the most complex challenges.

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FDA & USDA Food Facility Inspections

Inspections happen. While daunting, FIC's FDA and USDA Lawyers are here to help you prepare for and successfully navigate even the most intense FDA or USDA food safety inspections. When federal inspectors arrive, you can feel confident knowing that Food Industry Counsel is on your side.

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Cannabis Food Compliance

The cannabis industry is enjoying explosive growth and offers a multitude of opportunities to companies looking to enter the market. Food Industry Counsel's CBD Lawyers are established leaders in the cannabis industry. Companies rely on FIC's Cannabis Attorneys for the expertise and experience necessary to safely navigate the complex legal and regulatory landscape.

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Food Labeling & Compliance

One of the biggest challenges facing food companies today is achieving compliance with constantly changing label requirements. Food Industry Counsel's Food Labeling Lawyers can review your existing or proposed labels to ensure that they comply with the applicable standards.

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Food Trial & Litigation Counsel

With decades of experience representing food companies as defendants and plaintiffs in lawsuits throughout the United States, Food Industry Counsel's experienced Food Safety Trial Lawyers are uniquely positioned to expertly manage your litigation and trial strategy.

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Food Company Mergers & Acquisitions

Successful mergers and acquisitions are driven by WHO you know and WHAT you know. At Food Industry Counsel, we have decades of experience assisting thousands of food and beverage clients with virtually every aspect of their business, from food safety, to regulatory compliance, to supply-chain risk analysis and mitigation, to litigation, to mergers and acquisitions. Our unparalleled experience gives our M&A clients the unparalleled access to the WHO and the unmatched knowledge of the WHAT necessary to ensure the deal gets done right.

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Mock Food Safety Trials

For years, Food Industry Counsel's experienced Trial Lawyers, have been appearing before some of the nation’s most prestigious companies and food conferences to conduct “Mock Food Safety Trials.” These exercises demonstrate the withering tactics and strategies used by prosecutors and plaintiff attorneys alike in pursuit of guilty verdicts and enormous monetary awards. Not for the faint of heart, these Mock Trials put the C-Suite in the Hot Seat, and demonstrate the legal peril potentially faced by companies and executives in the event their products are tied to an outbreak.

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Food Recall Management

When food recalls or crises occur, food companies need someone they can trust to provide expert legal and consulting services to help manage avoid negative media coverage, regulatory scrutiny, and strained relationships with customers. FIC's Food Recall Lawyers are here to help you navigate any food-related crisis.

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Emergency Services

Whether your emergency involves a FDA or USDA regulatory enforcement issue, a recall, an emerging outbreak, or a threatened claim, Food Industry Counsel understands that help can’t wait until tomorrow.

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EMERGENCY RECALL SERVICES

Whether your emergency involves a regulatory enforcement issue, a recall, an emerging outbreak, sabotage or a threatened lawsuit, FIC's food lawyers know that help can’t wait until tomorrow.

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Testimonials

Shawn has an innate sense of getting to the point of any issue. He also has an extraordinary ability to include the human element in whatever’s being asked of regulations or the law.

Lon Doty

Vice President of Food Safety

Bolthouse Farms

Shawn is very good at translating for people who know less about the law, but still have to make decisions. I count on him to tell us the way it is.

Rick Schaffer

Bubbies Homemade Ice Cream

Shawn is great at getting a crisp, clear set of answers—not legalese—that provide direction and make decision-making easier.

Randy Fields

ReposiTrak

Shawn knows the food industry and the players within it. He is enjoyable to work with. Shawn has a practical, candid, 'call it like it is' style and he always manages to find ways to make himself available, especially at the times he's needed most.

Lanny Viegut

Carnivore Meat Company

Because of our relationship with Food Industry Counsel, we're able to operate with a confidence we wouldn't have otherwise—confidence we're doing things in ways that will benefit everyone.

David Hughes

Garden-Fresh Foods

Shawn has the innate ability to speak to us outside of legalese, so we always understand what’s happening and what’s needed.

Tom Barnes

MBG Marketing

Shawn is very involved within the food industry. He writes articles, conducts webinars and takes time to educate others about relevant issues. He's eager to listen to your needs and help you put a program together.

Yemi Ogunrinola

Vantage Foods

Shawn has the knowledge and ability to recognize gaps that need to be addressed—both from a legal, as well as a practical, standpoint. He knows what's happening and stays on top of key issues within the food industry.

John Burke

Eillien's Candies

Shawn reads situations quickly and communicates clearly from the first phone call. He combines legal expertise, deep food industry knowledge and a common-sense approach that's essential in times of urgency.

Barclay Klingel

Cyrus O'Leary's

Shawn thoroughly understands the food industry and regulatory environment. Whether it’s a quick question or a longer conversation about an important issue, he makes himself available to provide legally sound, common-sense counsel.

Donna Lynn Browne

Naturipe

I turn to Food Industry Counsel because food safety goes beyond being a profession for Shawn. For him, it's a passion.

Mike Walz

Miller Baking Company - Pretzilla

Featured Blog Posts

FSIS Proposes Declaring Salmonella an Adulterant in Breaded Stuffed Chicken Products

FSIS has proposed declaring Salmonella an adulterant in raw breaded stuffed chicken products when present in very low levels.

FDA Releases Draft Guidance on Dietary Guidance Statements

FDA proposed criteria that a food must meet when a claim such as "part of a nutritious dietary pattern" is made.

USDA Proposes Updates to USA Claims on FSIS Products

USDA determined the agency's current policy on "made in the USA" claims may be misleading to consumers. The agency proposed new requirements before a "USA" claim can be made on FSIS-regulated products.

FDA Releases Guidance on Plant-Based Milks

FDA released a Draft Guidance addressing naming of plant-based milk alternatives. The Guidance allows the continued use of "milk" and provides for the voluntary use of nutrition statements.

Department of Justice Now Following Updated Corporate Disclosure Policy

DOJ can partner with FDA and USDA to investigate corporate misconduct, including by food companies, which can result in criminal and criminal resolutions. DOJ released a policy explaining the agency's considerations when a company makes a voluntary self-disclosure of misconduct that is subject to investigation and possible prosecution by DOJ.