Mission and Vision
The Mitchell Hamline Food Law Center fosters and promotes the awareness, discussion, and study of food law, policy and key business issues as it relates to the production, manufacture, processing, handling, sustainability and consumption of food. We train lawyers and other legal specialists in food law and provide a forum for the discussion of food law-related public policy issues.
The Food Law Center works to:
- Educate students and the public by developing courses, seminars, symposia, and other programs
- Engage a variety of stakeholders to promote the exchange of knowledge and ideas about food and society
- Law firms servicing the food industry
- Food-related government positions
- Create and promote employment opportunities in food industries and public advocacy organizations
- Offer experiential learning opportunities for students
Health Law Certificate with a Concentration in Food Law (HLC-CFL)
The Health Law Institute (HLI) offers a Health Law Certificate (HLC) with a Concentration in Food Law (HLC-CFL). The HLC-CFL includes a curriculum designed to educate law students about the complex legal, policy and key business issues surrounding and influencing the food system, related rules and regulations. Students will develop skills and the necessary knowledge to serve clients involved in the production, manufacture, processing, handling, storage, transportation, marketing, sale, consumption, and sustainability of food in the United States. They will also learn about advocacy groups working to influence these food-related activities. The HLC-CFL is intended to supplement and refine our existing health law certificate requirements, not replace them. It provides interested students with an opportunity to acquire a better understanding of this dynamic sub-specialty.
The HLC-CFL is designed for:
- Students interested in working for food producers, manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, marketers, retailers, and other companies in the food supply chain.
- Students interested in consumer advocacy and public policy on food law-related issues.
- Students interested in working in law firms specializing in food-related litigation and/or counseling.
- Students interested in working in food-related positions in government.
Students are encouraged to apply early in their law school tenure. Declaring an intent to pursue the HLC-CFL creates no obligation to complete one. Students will work with an HLI faculty advisor to assist in structuring their HLC-CFL. Visit the certificate page to learn more and submit your notice of intent.
Upcoming Courses
- Food Law, taught by David Graham (fall 2025 – every fall)
- Food Safety and the Law, taught by Melanie Neumann and Jennifer Abrahamzon (spring 2025 – every spring on odd years)
- Food Labeling and Advertising: Law and Litigation Fundamentals, taught by Shirley Boyd (spring 2026 – every spring on even years)
Recommended Courses
- Constitutional Law
- Administrative Law
- Environmental Law
Past Events
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- Managing Change: Chevron, FDA, Food Regulations and State Packaging Laws – October, 2024
- In Case You Missed It – A Food Law Symposium – January, 2024
- Food Insecurity – November, 2022
- Food Traceability: Definition and Challenges from Farm to Fork and Back – April, 2022
- Food Transparency: What Is It and Who Defines It? – October, 2021
- Protein Wars: Defining, Naming, and Labeling Alternative Proteins – October, 2020
- Hot Topics in Food Labeling and Safety – November, 2019
- Food Sustainability: The Many Facets of a Growing Challenge – May, 2019
- Trends in FDA Enforcement: What We’re Seeing Today – June, 2018
- Working as a Lawyer at the FDA and a Food Company with Greg Thompson, Chief Food Law Counsel, General Mills – April, 2018
- Menu Labeling and Other Food Labeling Laws – December, 2017
- Hot Topics in Food Labeling and Safety – November, 2016
Food Law News & Resources
- Food Law Student Network
- Harvard Food Law & Policy Career Guide from 2017
- Minnesota State Bar Association Food, Drug & Device Section
- 5 New Practice Areas Your Firm Should Start, Law360.com
- FDA Law Blog
- The Ag & Food Law Blog
- Schroeder Ag Law Blog
- A Seat at the Table
- The Food Law Firm’s Digest Articles
- USDA/USDA Food & Nutrition
- FDA
- Keller & Heckman Blog
This assembly of lawyers and business professionals volunteer their time to the Health Law Institute to help expand what the Food Law Center can do. They do this by giving recommendations, feedback, information, and materials that are valuable to creating new courses, events for current students and lawyers interested in food law, and much more.
- Jennifer Abrahamzon, JD ’09 – Regulatory Counsel, FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine
- Abdur Amin, JD ’23 – Senior Safety Professional, The Walt Disney Company
- Kayla Beyer, JD – CEO, Provender Brands, d/b/a Deeply Rooted Farms
- Shirley R. Boyd, JD – Cargill, Incorporated, VP and Associate General Counsel (retired)
- Sarah Brew, JD – Faegre Drinker LLP, Partner
- David Graham, JD – Senior Counsel, Gardner Law
- Nancy Husnik, JD – Target Corporation, Director, Regulatory Counsel (retired)
- Lori Marco, JD – Senior Legal Advisor – Principal, Red Barn Consulting LLC / Sustainability & Downstream Engagement Lead, Landus
- Indra Mehrotra, MS, RD – Cargill, Incorporated, Director of Regulatory and Scientific Affairs (retired)
- Melanie Neumann, J,D., M.S. – Executive Coach, Neumann Advisory Services LLC
- Ryan Osterholm, JD – OFT Law, Partner
- Rebecca Peterson, JD – Partner, Lockridge Grindal Nauen PLLP
- Joseph Scimeca, PhD – International Dairy Foods Association, SVP, Regulatory and Scientific Affairs
- Shawn Stevens, JD – Founder, Food Industry Counsel LLC
- Greg Thompson, JD – Chief Food Law Counsel, General Mills
- Jeff Varcoe, PhD – The JM Smucker Co., Vice President Quality Assurance and Food Safety
Faculty and Staff
