Fall 2022

Introduction

Dear Friends of the Resnick Center,

We are delighted to share with you some of the projects we have been engaged in over the past year. We have continued our leadership in food law and policy scholarship with major works, fostered student leaders at UCLA Law, and brought together thought leaders in the world of food law and policy. Among other things, Resnick Center faculty produced a major work on food fraud, traveled to Italy with UCLA students to study major world food governing bodies, and engaged with the first White House Conference on Nutrition in over 50 years.

As the Resnick Center nears its tenth anniversary, we are grateful for our partners and supporters, who allow us to continue the work of improving our global food systems for the health of people and the planet, and who inspire us every day.

Please reach out to us at resnickcenter@law.ucla.edu to let us know what you’ve been up to, for more information, to get involved, or to donate to our work.

And please follow us!

Twitter: @UCLAFoodLaw
Instagram: @uclafoodlawcenter
On Food Law blog: https://onfoodlaw.org/
Repast podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/repast/id1552995988

Thank you for your support, and best wishes,
Executive Director Michael Roberts and Deputy Director Diana Winters

International Food Law

Innovation in global food regulation ranges from labeling to food waste to nutrition programs. In recognition of the important role law can make in meeting the changing needs of an evolving global food system, the Resnick Center is expanding its coverage of international food law. Center activities include publishing books foundational to international food law and governance; forming formal and informal partnerships with global institutions and universities involved in food policy; engaging in funded, mission-based projects to improve food regulation world-wide; and offering new courses and opportunities for students and faculty.

International and national regulatory strategies to counter food fraud

One of these endeavors came to fruition with a publication on food fraud, International and national regulatory strategies to counter food fraud, co-authored by Professor Michael Roberts in conjunction with the legal department of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The book explores the complexities of food fraud, international regulatory frameworks, and strategies to counter fraud at the national level. This insightful report will be presented to FAO member countries and can be found here.

Model Strategies Project

To further supplement its current scholarship on transformative governance models in food law, the Resnick Center developed a series of publications to showcase select model strategies from best practices around the world. Drawing from laws, policies, and research from various global case studies, the issue brief series makes the case for a paradigm shift in how we conceptualize and govern food. Melissa Shapiro, the International Food-Safety Law and Policy Fellow, created an iterative project, which will ultimately pilot an issue-focused and solutions-oriented approach toward food system governance. The initiative was made possible with support from the Seeding the Future (STF) van Lengerich Foundation and is intended to serve international government officials and other policymakers at the international, national, and local levels, as well as international policy bodies and private sector actors.

Courses in Italy

Lastly, this past summer, UCLA undergraduate students had the unique opportunity to study food history and culture in the very birthplace of food studies. Executive Director and UCLA Law Professor Michael Roberts and UCLA History Professor Robin Derby co-taught an interdisciplinary study abroad curriculum, “Atlantic Foodways: Culture, Science, and Governance” in Rome and Pisa. The month-long program offered two courses, one of which introduced Italian food history, and another that addressed the emergence and development of international food bodies. Students were able to experience the remarkable culinary culture of Italy through excursions and guest lectures on food history and law while observing artisanal culinary practices and sustainable forms of production.

At UCLA

Top Trial Lawyers Speak in Food Litigation Class

This past academic year, the Resnick Center offered law students a unique opportunity to study the dynamic field of food litigation through a seminar taught by lawyers David Biderman and Thomas Tobin, who actively litigate in the expanding niche sector of food law at the multinational law firm Perkins Coie.

The seminar featured a number of impressive guest speakers hailing from various practices in food litigation. Among them was Jerry W. Blackwell (pictured at left), a prominent civil rights attorney and trial lawyer who formed part of the prosecution team for the Derek Chauvin murder trial. Blackwell has extensive experience litigating high-profile cases related to product liability, class actions, and commercial disputes. Students also had the privilege of hearing from Mark Lanier, who is regarded as one of America’s top civil trial lawyers and is best known for his success in some of the largest product litigation suits of all-time.

Nutrition in Prison: Policies and Realities

Food policy transects many areas of life, providing a unique lens to examine issues across various fields of study. In March 2022, the Resnick Center for Food Law and Policy partnered with the Prison Law and Policy Program at UCLA Law to co-host the panel discussion: "Nutrition in Prison: Policies & Realities." Attendees heard a variety of perspectives from panelists as they discussed the ambiguous meaning behind “nutritionally adequate” meals. They elaborated on how their particular work is addressing urgent issues related to food and nutrition for incarcerated people. Speakers included Leslie Soble, of Impact Justice's Food in Prison Project; Clark Kelso, the Federal Receiver for California Prison Medical Care; and Heile Gantan, a Policy Advocacy Fellow with the Anti-Recidivism Coalition. This wonderful event was organized by law students Candace Yaminishi, Korbin Felder, and Kaila Johnson.

Michael Roberts Appointed to Director’s Council of Rothman Family Institute for Food Studies at UCLA

Growing global challenges in the realm of food require bright minds and bold action. This is the philosophy that led to a generous $13.5 million endowment to create the UCLA Rothman Family Institute for Food Studies at UCLA. The Institute hopes to improve the health and well-being of the individual, community, and planet through a system-based, interdisciplinary approach, and to implement practical solutions to some of the grand challenges that society is facing with food. Michael Roberts has been appointed to the Institute’s Director’s Council, which will guide the leadership of and the strategy at the new institute.

National Work

Current Trends & Perspectives Beyond the Beltway

The Resnick Center had the pleasure of co-sponsoring CLE International’s 6th annual Food Law Conference, “Current Trends & Perspectives Beyond the Beltway.” The virtual conference, held over zoom in April, included a variety of sessions that touched on different facets of international food law. In the Future of Food Law session, Executive Director of the Resnick Center Michael Roberts discussed the powerful role of information and artificial intelligence in transforming the way we grow, eat, and market food, raising concerns about the democratization of data for all to benefit from such advancements.

White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health

Diet-related diseases are among the leading causes of death and disability in the United States, and they have a disproportionate impact across socioeconomic levels and ethnicities. On September 28, 2022, the Biden-Harris Administration hosted a White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, the first in over 50 years, to address these challenges. At the conference, the administration released a National Strategy to end hunger, improve nutrition and physical activity, and reduce diet-related diseases and disparities.

On June 28, 2022, to prepare for this conference, the Resnick Center and the Semel Healthy Campus Initiative Center at UCLA co-hosted a convening of University of California (UC) students and thought leaders in the fields of food security, hunger, and health to discuss and collect ideas and recommendations for the White House. The convening, guided by a White House Toolkit focused on four 4 pillars: improving food access and affordability, integrating nutrition and health, empowering all consumers to make and have access to healthy choices, and supporting physical activity for all. The robust network of coalitions across all seven UC campuses made for a very dynamic and enriching meeting with powerful takeaways.

Other News

Resnick Center Awarded Funds From Food Class Action Suits

The Resnick Center was happy to be designated as a cy pres recipient in two class action lawsuit settlements. The cy pres doctrine directs that settlement funds be disbursed as closely as possible to the original intent of the settlement. A cy pres recipient receives funds that cannot be distributed to class members and must align with the interests of the class. As an academic Center that works in local, national, and international food law, the Resnick Center is an appropriate recipient of cy pres funds. The lawsuits alleged that cereal manufacturers Kellogg and Post made claims that their cereals were healthy when they in fact were not due to high sugar content. The lawsuits settled in 2021, and the Resnick Center was delighted to be approved as a cy pres recipient in each case.

Repast Podcast Series: Tune in for Some Food for Thought

On the hunt for a thought-provoking podcast centered around food’s intersection with society, business, and politics? Be sure to tune in to Repast, an engaging food law & policy podcast series hosted by the Resnick Center’s Executive Director Michael Roberts and Deputy Director Diana Winters. From cutting-edge innovation transforming agribusiness to groundbreaking consumer protection lawsuits, Repast explores a wide range of topics with distinguished thought leaders in food law and policy to discuss pressing issues and exciting developments. In 2022, Roberts and Winters were approached by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to interview Dr. Sara Bleich, Director of Nutrition Security and Health Equity, to discuss USDA’s actions on nutrition security. They also interviewed food law professors Neil Hamilton and Susan Schneider, and class action attorneys Michael Baum and Pedram Esfandiary. Repast was featured in this year’s UCLA Law Magazine, and you can find Repast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

Research Assistant Spotlight

Lauren Mansy

Lauren Mansy is a senior at UCLA and has been a research assistant with the Resnick Center for almost two years. She has worked on various projects, from research on food systems to managing faculty book projects to building the Resnick Center’s social media presence, and the Resnick Center is extremely appreciative of her work. She wrote this about her interests:

“I am a rising senior at UCLA pursuing a major in Global Studies and a minor in Entrepreneurship. The interdisciplinary nature of my major in Global Studies has given me the ability to analyze contexts from multiple angles and think critically toward solutions to complex issues. As part of my major, this past summer I took part in a UCLA travel study program, in which I traveled to Singapore to take two courses and gain experience applying business leadership and communication in a diverse cultural context. As I enter my final year at UCLA, I will be working to write a senior thesis on a food-related topic connected to globalization. Moreover, I have greatly benefitted by enhancing my learnings from my major with my minor in Entrepreneurship. The minor has allowed me to develop excellent communication and presentation abilities, as well as a solid foundation of business principles as I cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset of assessing risk and pursuing business opportunities in uncertain environments.

On campus, I have been part of the Global Development Lab, a student-run club on campus that equips students with the skills to create social impact. Additionally, I am a photography intern with Bruin Life Student Media, and I also serve on the Accountability and Transparency Committee for the Academic Affairs Commission.

Both my professional and academic experiences have encompassed business, policy, and legal environments, and in some cases even intersected these fields. I am looking to pursue a career in either business, law, or the intersection of the two. My major, which is very interdisciplinary, has greatly captured my interest in international supply chains, trade, and the legal/regulatory aspects that govern business. I am heavily considering a career in global business or law.

My particular interest happens to be in the food and agricultural industry. I have a deep passion for food systems, agriculture, and sustainability. I am interested in food law and policy, and I would like to study more about how our food system can improve to build up vulnerable communities, create healthier lives, and protect the environment.”

Follow the Resnick Center on Twitter

Read the On Food Law Blog

Listen to the Repast Podcast Series