Bill Marler was invited to present with a panel of litigators who had experience with food related class action cases. The topic discussed was entitled, Food Litigation Update : Emerging Trends in Class Actions and Product Liability Cases.
The attorneys on the panel examined the latest consumer class action trends. Their focus was on food labeling disputes around deceptive health-related marketing claims and allergen mislabeling cases, the growing body of microplastics litigation, and recent significant food contaminants cases. Additionally, panelists examined the evolving regulatory landscape for food safety and consumer protection, new legal theories, and what may lie ahead in the food litigation space.
During Bill Marler's presentation, he discussed foodborne illness cases and the reasons why they don't always rise to the level of class actions. He also shared the case law related to non-compliance with FDA approved ingredients. One example of this type of litigation was the foodborne outbreak linked to Daily Harvest home delivered meals. This outbreak affected well over 400 people when a non FDA approved ingredient, a Peruvian protein supplement called tara flour, was added to a lentil meal.