Law School, Firms Host Food Safety Conference at Seattle University
March 19 2008
SEATTLE, WA – Few subjects draw more immediate attention or concern than the safety of the food we eat, and Seattle University School of Law will host an in-depth conference to address the issue. “Who’s Minding the Store: The Current State of Food Safety and How It Can Be Improved,” a conference organized and sponsored by Marler Clark and Stoel Rives, will take place April 11 and 12 at Sullivan Hall on the Seattle University campus.
The conference brings together international food safety experts, including Jorgen Schlundt of the World Health Organization, Qiu Yueming of the China National Institute of Standardization, Deon Mahoney of Food Standards Australia New Zealand, Chris Griffith of University of Cardiff Wales, and Dr. Canice Nolan, of the European Union. Featured speakers include Richard Raymond, Under Secretary for Food Safety, United States Department of Agriculture, and Patricia Griffin, Chief, Enteric Diseases Epidemiology Branch, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Other participants include national and local representatives of government, the food industry, consumer organizations, and scientists. Washington Governor Christine Gregoire will present the keynote address.
Seattle was the epicenter of the Jack in the Box E. coli outbreak that sickened 600 and killed four 15 years ago. Recent years have seen a plethora of food warnings and recalls, raising new questions about the quality and integrity of our existing system for assuring food safety. In addition to explaining how the present system works, this program is intended to discuss how changing consumer preferences are affecting the development and distribution of food, examine whether federal, state and industry oversight roles are changing, and discuss how the regulatory and judicial processes can be most efficiently balanced.
For a detailed agenda and registration, visit http://www.law.seattleu.edu/cle/archive/2008/foodsafety.
The program is organized and co-sponsored by William D. Marler a 1987 graduate of Seattle University School of Law, Marler Clark LLP PS, and Kenneth M. Odza, Stoel Rives LLP.
Press interested in coverage should contact Katherine Hedland Hansen at 206-398-4108 or . Questions regarding the program should be directed to Rebecca Parker at 206- 398-4282