As the FDA and FTC have clearly set their sights on scrutinizing the food and beverage industries in 2011, companies must be prepared for the related enforcement and investigative activities that may very well ensue.  On March 31 - April 1, 2011, the American Conference Institute will host its inaugural Legal Summit on Food & Beverage Marketing & Advertising Conference in Washington, D.C., and Manatt partners Linda Goldstein and Ivan Wasserman have been invited to convene with other prominent authorities in the field to discuss what's on the horizon.
 
To explore the types of evidence needed to meet FDA and FTC expectations for food and beverage product claims, and the role consumer perception plays in food advertising, Linda Goldstein will moderate a panel titled “Claim Substantiation: Navigating the Intersection of FDA & FTC Oversight Over Food Labeling and Advertising Claims.”  The panelists joining Linda include Timothy Ernst (Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Del Monte Foods) and Denise Gough (Vice President, Legal Affairs, for Scripps Networks).
 
To help companies prepare for developments with respect to food product claims and regulatory requirements, Ivan Wasserman will moderate a panel titled “Knowing What Can and Cannot Be Said When Making Specific Food Product Claims: How to Ensure Compliant Health, Nutrition, Benefit, Function and Mental Performance Claims.”  The panel will comprise Vincent de Jesus (Nutritionist for the Office of Nutrition, Labeling and Dietary Supplements, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition of the FDA) and Kevin Goldberg (Vice President and General Counsel for Nestlé Nutrition). 

For more information on the conference, click here.