Sidley is a proud sponsor of the 13th Annual Momentum Food and Beverage Exchange.
On October 7, Sidley partner Dino LaVerghetta will speak at a panel titled "Federal Focus 2026: Tackling the Next Wave of FDA, USDA and FTC Regulatory Priorities."
As federal agencies prepare to implement key policy shifts in 2026, regulatory and legal professionals in the food and beverage industry must stay ahead of evolving mandates. This session will explore anticipated updates from the FDA, USDA and FTC, highlighting their potential impact on product development, labeling, advertising and enforcement. Learn how to prepare your compliance strategy for what’s next on the federal agenda. With potential discussion on:
- FDA Focus: Insights into expected shifts in food labeling requirements, traceability mandates and enforcement activity under the Food Safety Modernization Act
- USDA Priorities: Guidance on anticipated changes to organic certification, origin claims, and oversight of alternative protein and livestock labeling
- FTC Enforcement Trends: What in-house legal teams need to know about increased scrutiny of ESG marketing, influencer partnerships and consumer deception standards
- Cross-Agency Trends: Where FDA, USDA, and FTC priorities are aligning, especially around sustainability, AI in labeling and digital consumer disclosures
- Actionable Guidance: Strategic compliance planning to align with emerging regulatory expectations and minimize exposure in audits or enforcement actions.
On October 8, Sidley partner Brienne Letourneau will speak at a panel titled “AI in the Aisle: Legal and Regulatory Implications of Artificial Intelligence in Food Retail and Marketing,” also featuring Carolyn Brougham, Senior IP Counsel at Mars, Inc. This session will include key takeaways on how best to:
- Identify where AI may trigger regulatory oversight
- Assess and mitigate compliance risk
- Prepare for evolving enforcement
From smart shelf tags and personalized promotions to AI-generated product recommendations and dynamic pricing models, artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the food retail experience. But with innovation comes uncertainty—and potential exposure. This session will examine the legal, regulatory, and ethical implications of AI use in consumer-facing contexts. Designed for legal compliance and government affairs professionals, the discussion will explore how AI intersects with data privacy, consumer protection, labeling, and bias, and what steps companies must take to maintain compliance while staying competitive.
The Momentum Food and Beverage Exchange offers the latest and best in regulatory compliance, marketing, advertising, and litigation trends with panels designed to navigate ever-evolving risks and challenges disrupting the industry. This annual conference attracts senior-level food and beverage executives from retailers, manufacturers, consumer packaged goods, quick service food and restaurants, wine and spirits, and specialty food and beverage. Having represented food and beverage retailers for decades, Sidley has built a reputation for successfully handling complex and multidisciplinary transactional, regulatory, and litigation matters spanning a range of legal areas. Our expansive experience in both the retail and food and beverage industries, along with our lawyers’ frequent research and publications on industry trends, allows us to provide thoughtful advice for the myriad legal and business challenges that these organizations face. Sidley is also a leading adviser to companies that both develop and use artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics applications, as well as companies that are impacted by the proliferation of AI applications across various industries.
Additional information on the conference can be found here.
