ABSTRACT
Two very different departments protect the safety of the company’s customersandconsumersandthecompanyitselfanditsrealandintellectualproperties.Thesearethelegalandthequalitycontroldepartments(orwhatever namethelatterfunctiongoesunder).Thesearethesupportgroups,asthey playsupportiverolesfortheotherdepartmentsbuthaveveryactiverolesin the development process. Areas in which they are required are as follows:
•Protectingtheconsumingpublicfromanyinjuryorintoxication resultingfromthepreparationof,useof,andeatingthecompany’s food products
•Assistinginsettingstandardsandcontrolstoensurethestabilityof thehighqualityattributesofthenewproductanditswholesomeness throughout its shelf life
•Advisingonandmonitoringforadherencetocustomerprotection legislation
•Reviewinglabelnomenclature,advertisingstatements,andpromotionalclaimsandseeingtotheiradherenceorregulationstonorms established by government
•Protectingthecompany’srightsincontracts,leases,andpartnership transactions
•Protectingandregisteringtrademarks,copyrights,orlingpatent applications and protecting these from illegal use
•Investigatingfraudulentdamageclaimsagainstthecompanyorits products
Thesizeofthecompanydetermineshowthesetasksaredividedbetweenthe two support groups. Some are more obviously one than the other, but there isamurkymiddleground.Inmanysmallercompanies,thequalitycontrol
manager often advises on label statements and claims (particularly nutrientclaims),andmanysmallercompaniesdonothavelegaldepartmentsinhousebutresorttolegalrmsspecializinginfoodlegislation.Advertising isoftenhandledbyoutsideagencieswith(usually)goodknowledgeofthe legalities of food advertising and claims.
