News & Insights

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FDA’s Final Rule on Intentional Adulteration of Food: Public Meeting and Guidance

FDA has announced a public meeting to discuss its recent Draft Guidance for industry on the agency’s intentional adulteration of...

FDA Extends Compliance Date for The Produce Rule’s Agricultural Water Requirement

As initially announced last week by outgoing Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., the compliance dates for...

President’s Budget

By former USDA Secretary John R. Block. Issues of the Day. The President’s Budget. If everything goes according to plan,...

Land Grab

By former USDA Secretary John R. Block. Did you know that Congress passed legislation authorizing the Land and Water Conservation...

China & N. Korea

By former USDA Secretary John R. Block. Priority government issues of the day would have to be trade negotiations with...

Debt

By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Our economy is booming. Job growth in 2018 averaged 220,000 new jobs each...

Optimism

By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Optimism is in the air. Pessimism is being crowded out. The second government...

From the Farm

By former USDA Secretary John R. Block This week I was in Peoria, Illinois speaking to the Illinois Fertilizer &...

Reflections on Product Safety Impacts of the Government Shutdown

With the government back to work, at least for 3 weeks, now is a good time to reflect on the...

Government shutdowns – Who dreamed up this crazy idea?

Jimmy Carter (above) and his Attorney General, Benjamin Civiletti (right), authors of the modern government shutdown. In all the drama...

Low-Carb Food Labeling: What FDA Rules Mean for Food Manufacturers

“Low-carb food labeling” sits in a regulatory gray zone that creates real legal risk for food manufacturers. Keto, paleo, and...

Play It Again SAM: Federal Judge Orders FNS to Remove Owner of Disqualified SNAP Retailer from SAM List

Owners of supermarkets and convenience stores are generally not aware that one of the perils of participating in the SNAP...

Trade

By former USDA Secretary John R. Block For some time now on the question of trade, all we have focused...

OFW Law Adds Three Principal Attorneys to the Firm

The Principals of Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Matz (OFW Law) are pleased to announce the promotion of Kristen O’Brien, Mason...

Cabinet Luncheon

By former USDA Secretary John R. Block. Christmas is behind us and the New Year is off to a wild...

Government shutdowns – Who dreamed up this crazy idea?

In all the drama and commotion over the government shutdown, now in its third week, with 800,000 federal employees going...

Congressional Agenda

By former USDA Secretary John R. Block. Last week, I attended the beautiful service at the National Cathedral for our...

President Bush

By former USDA Secretary John R. Block. The passing of President George H. W. Bush has brought the whole nation...

John Block Reports: Saying Goodbye to President George H.W. Bush

By former USDA Secretary John R. Block. The passing of President George H. W. Bush has brought the whole nation...

Just in Time for Thanksgiving: Britax Settlement Signals Common-Sense Thinking at CPSC

At this time of year, we celebrate blessings large and small. For product sellers, consumers, and others who are interested...

Opinion: The Obesity Equation Calories in; Calories Out

During this Holiday Season, we all enjoy those extra calories and special desserts. It is part of giving thanks and...

Elite Food Standards and More

By former USDA Secretary John R. Block. Thank you, God, for all of our blessings. Look at the turmoil, poverty,...

USTR Requests Comments on Negotiating Objectives for Potential Deals with UK, EU & Japan

As the Trump administration moves forward with its trade agenda focused on bilateral agreements, the Office of the U. S....

Busy Week

By former USDA Secretary John R. Block. Last week was really busy. Three days at the National Association of Farm...