Foods

Legal Eagle Mike Papantonio Declares War on Ultra-Processed Foods: The Next Mass Tort Movement Begins

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LAS VEGAS—In a fervent address at the Mass Torts Made Perfect (MTMP) Spring 2025 conference, prominent attorney Mike Papantonio rallied legal professionals nationwide to confront the ultra-processed food (UPF) industry. Papantonio, known for successful campaigns against major corporations like Big Tobacco and opioid manufacturers, labeled UPFs as “the next tobacco,” emphasizing their potential to cause widespread harm. Papantonio urged attendees to recognize the parallels between the current UPF crisis and past public health battles. “These are not mere foods; they are chemical concoctions designed to foster addiction,” he stated, targeting an industry worth over $300 … Read more

New Law Bolsters Military Spouses’ Businesses: North Dakota Enhances Cottage Foods Act to Permit Interstate Sales

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Bismarck, North Dakota — On a recent legislative day, Governor Kelly Armstrong signed a pivotal bill that broadened the scope of North Dakota’s Cottage Foods Act, allowing for a significant expansion of home-based food businesses, including those run by military spouses. The newly revised law, which includes an emergency clause ensuring its immediate enactment, now permits these entrepreneurs to market and ship their products across state lines and via online platforms. Previously, North Dakota counted among the minority of states that restricted interstate commerce for cottage food operations, tying the hands of home-based entrepreneurs who … Read more

Judge Clears Triumph Foods in Antitrust Case, Dismisses All Charges

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In a significant legal development, a U.S. District Court has dismissed an antitrust lawsuit against Triumph Foods, a prominent player in the pork industry. The case, originally brought forward by wholesalers accusing the company of conspiring to inflate pork prices, met its conclusion without proceeding to trial. This ruling represents a pivotal moment for the meat processing sector, emphasizing the complexities of antitrust allegations in this heavily scrutinized industry. The plaintiffs in this lawsuit were a group of meat wholesalers who claimed that Triumph Foods, along with other industry giants, manipulated pork prices. They alleged … Read more

Whole Foods Reaches Settlement in Lawsuit Over Employee’s Black Lives Matter Mask

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Boston — After allegations of racial discrimination and retaliation, Whole Foods has agreed to settle a lawsuit with a former employee who claimed the company disciplined her for wearing a mask supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. According to legal documents, the settlement permits the supermarket chain, owned by Amazon.com Inc., to avoid further litigation while not admitting any wrongdoing. The controversy began in June 2020 when Savannah Kinzer, then an employee at a Cambridge, Massachusetts, store, was sent home for donning a mask bearing the phrase “Black Lives Matter.” The dismissal came amid nationwide … Read more