Food Product Liability

Throughout its history, the Sobel Pevzner, LLC., has been defense counsel to the food industry in matters involving food and food product liability. The firm represents a wide variety of clients in this complex area of the law including national and regional restaurants, fast food chains, supermarkets, manufacturers and distributors. Claims and suits typically involve an alleged tainted or adulterated food product and only an attorney experienced in the field of food science can filter through the countless frivolous claims for “food poisoning.” Claims involving E-coli, salmonella and listeria are frequently presented but rarely proven when examined by knowledgeable defense counsel.

In addition to the knowledge of food science, the attorneys of the Sobel Pevzner, LLC. possess a thorough understanding of Federal and State labeling statutes, required allergen warnings and the standards of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Clients in this area of practice often times utilize the services of the firm to review standard practices and procedures employed in the restaurant, retail, distribution and manufacturing settings. More closely akin to risk management, the firm’s attorneys counsel the firm’s client in every aspect of food safety, cross contamination, refrigeration, transportation all with the goal of minimizing food based risk. The firm drafts vendor and other agreements which effectively shift the risk of food liability to the party responsible for the product’s creation and packaging. Through this approach, the firm assists its clients in avoiding food liability risk but when cases of this nature are presented, their extensive knowledge minimizes exposure to adverse verdicts as well as adverse publicity arising from allegations which relate to a client’s products.