NALC webinar to examine changing food ingredient laws, regulations
Nov. 3, 2026
By Phillip Powell
National Agricultural Law Center
Fast Facts
- Presentation covers state labeling laws, FDA regulatory changes and related litigation
- Free, Nov. 18 webinar examines state and federal developments
- Registration available online at NALC event website
Download a PHOTO of Emily Stone
(336 words)
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — From new state food labeling laws to shifting federal ingredient approval processes, 2026 has brought significant changes to the legal landscape governing what goes into the nation’s food supply.
A free webinar hosted by the National Agricultural Law Center will examine these developments and what they could mean for food ingredient regulations in coming years.
“What’s in a Food? A 2026 Snapshot of Food Ingredient Changes at the State and Federal Levels” will take place from 11 a.m. to noon CST on Nov. 18.
Emily Stone, staff attorney at the National Agricultural Law Center, will lead the presentation. Stone’s work at the National Agricultural Law Center focuses on food law and policy, including food labeling, food safety, nutrition programs and alternative proteins.
“Food ingredient regulation is evolving at both the state and federal levels, creating a complex legal landscape for food producers, manufacturers and consumers to navigate," Stone said. "This webinar will take stock of the major developments from 2026 and examine what they may signal for the year ahead."
The webinar will explore recently enacted state laws restricting certain food ingredients or requiring additional labeling, as well as litigation challenging these measures, to provide an overview of the evolving legal landscape and consider what recent developments could mean for food ingredient regulation in 2027.
Stone will also discuss federal developments, including changes to the Food and Drug Administration’s Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) pathway, the revocation of approval for certain color additives, and a proposed post-market chemical review process.
“As states and federal regulators take new approaches to food ingredient regulation, it’s important for agricultural and food industry stakeholders to understand the legal developments shaping this area,” said Harrison Pittman, director of the National Agricultural Law Center. “This webinar will help bring these changes into focus and provide a clearer picture of what may be ahead.”
The webinar is free and open to the public. To learn more and register, visit nationalaglawcenter.org/webinars/2026-food-ingredient-changes. Or you can use this shortened link to find the registration page: https://snip.ly/rqddr6.
To learn more about ag and food research in Arkansas, visit aaes.uada.edu. Follow the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station on LinkedIn and sign up for our monthly newsletter, the Arkansas Agricultural Research Report. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu.
About the National Agricultural Law Center
Created by Congress in 1987, the National Agricultural Law Center serves as the nation’s leading source of agricultural and food law research and information. The NALC works with producers, agribusinesses, state and federal policymakers, lenders, Congressional staffers, attorneys, land grant universities, students, and many others to provide objective, nonpartisan agricultural and food law research and information to the nation’s agricultural community.
The NALC is a unit of the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture and works in close partnership with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, National Agricultural Library.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 22 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three system campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
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Media Contact:
Phillip Powell
National Agricultural Law Center
ppowell@uark.edu