Mission and vision
The Mitchell Hamline Food Law Council fosters and promotes the awareness, discussion, and study of food law and regulation as it relates to the production, manufacture, 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.
Activities
- Educating students and the public by developing courses, seminars, symposia, and other programming
- Engaging a variety of stakeholders to promote the exchange of knowledge and ideas about food and society
- Creating and promoting employment opportunities in food industries and public advocacy organizations
- Offering experiential learning opportunities for students
Upcoming Events
All EventsPast events
- 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, Dec. 2017
- Food Sustainability
- Protein Wars: Defining, naming, and labeling alternative proteins, October 2020
Food law courses
- Food Law taught by, David Graham (fall 2020)
- Food for Thought taught by, Melissa Weiner, Steve Toeniskoetter, Shirley Boyd, and Nancy Husnik (spring 2021)
- Food Fight: The Art and Science of Foodborne Illness Litigation taught by, Ryan Osterholm and Brendan Flaherty (summer 2021)
Recommended courses
- Constitutional Law
- Administrative Law
- Environmental Law
Food law resources
- Food Law Student Network
- Harvard Food Law & Policy Career Guide
100-page guide last updated in November 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
Food Law Center Advisory Board
Kayla Beyer, JD – Element Food Solutions, Director of Business Development
Doug Blanke, JD – Public Health Law Center, Executive Director,
Shirley R. Boyd, JD – Cargill, Incorporated, VP and Associate General Counsel (retired)
Sarah Brew, JD – Faegre Drinker LLP, Partner
Susan Blum, JD – Cargill, Incorporated, Food Law Lawyer
David Graham, JD – Dykema Gossett, PLLC, Partner
Nancy Husnik, JD – Target Corporation, Director, Regulatory Counsel (retired)
Indra Mehrotra, MS, RD – Cargill, Incorporated, Director of Regulatory and Scientific Affairs (retired)
Ryan Osterholm, JD – OFT Law, Partner
Steve Toeniskoetter, JD – Hormel Foods Corporation, Senior Attorney
Joseph Scimeca, PhD – International Dairy Foods Association, SVP, Regulatory and Scientific Affairs
Jeff Varcoe, PhD – Schwan’s Company, Vice President, Food Safety and Quality
Melissa S. Weiner, JD – Pearson Simon & Warshaw, LLP, Partner
Faculty and Staff
