# #216 - Food Labeling Law 101 with Lauren Handel

- Show: [The Startup CPG Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast)
- Published: 2025-09-30
- Length: 57m
- Episode: 199
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-09-30-216-food-labeling-law-101-with-lauren-handel
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/c5024a7e

## Summary

Lauren Handel, founder of Handel Food Law, explains the regulatory framework and litigation risks for CPG brands, distinguishing between FDA-regulated foods and USDA-regulated products. She details specific claim categories including nutrient content, 'natural,' 'organic,' and health benefits, emphasizing that consistency across packaging, websites, and advertising is essential to avoid costly class-action lawsuits. Handel advises founders to understand the difference between regulatory consultants and attorneys, noting that legal advice offers privilege and risk assessment that consultants cannot provide, while recommending third-party certifications to mitigate exposure to litigation.

## Outline

1. Introduction: Lauren Handel and Handel Food Law
2. Regulatory Framework: FDA vs. USDA and Pre-approval
3. Litigation Risks and Plaintiff Lawyer Tactics
4. Regulatory Consultants vs. Attorneys
5. Nutrient Content Claims and ChatGPT Limitations
6. Health-Related and Structure-Function Claims
7. Organic Labeling Rules
8. The 'Natural' Claim and PFAS Litigation
9. Vegan, Plant-Based, and Environmental Claims
10. Third-Party Certifications and Consistency Across Channels

## Topics

- [Certification & compliance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/certification-and-compliance)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Handel Food Law (company)
- Whole Foods (company)
- Erewhon (company)
- USDA (other)
- FDA (other)
- FTC (other)
- ChatGPT (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [348 - Cracking the Code of Label Compliance with Lauren Rockteacher](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2026-05-07-348-cracking-the-code-of-label-compliance-with-lauren-rockteacher) (People of Packaging)
- [72 - Talking Bioengineered Labeling Laws with Kate Kalivoda, CEO of Misty Pines Consulting](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2021-09-03-72-talking-bioengineered-labeling-laws-with-kate-kalivoda-ceo-of-misty-pines-con) (People of Packaging)
- [247 - Cannabis packaging, TLMI meeting, PFAS - Packaging Today Show with Evelio and Cory](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2024-03-06-247-cannabis-packaging-tlmi-meeting-pfas-packaging-today-show-with-evelio-and-co) (People of Packaging)
- [Ad Promo and The Difference in Regulatory & Legal](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2023-05-24-ad-promo-and-the-difference-in-regulatory-legal) (Global Medical Device Podcast)
- [009: NDAs, Contracts, Insurance & Other Legal Tips with Gordon Firemark of Entertainment Law Update](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-05-31-009-ndas-contracts-insurance-other-legal-tips-with-gordon-firemark-of-entertainm) (Product Startup)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-09-30-216-food-labeling-law-101-with-lauren-handel. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Startup CPG Podcast.