“Intentional Contamination: The Legal Risks and Responsibilities” was written for the Journal of Environmental Health. In the article, I address who is legally responsible for injuries sustained after a person becomes ill after consuming a product that was intentionally contaminated before it was purchased. Beyond the political implications of the use of food products as weapons, there is also the legal question of whether a company can be held liable for the criminal acts of an employee who decides, for whatever reason, to contaminate food products that then go on to make a number of people sick. To answer this question, we need first to discuss the rule of vicarious liability, or, as it is also known, respondeat superior–which is Latin for “let the superior make the answer.”
Denis Stearns, is of-counsel at Marler Clark, earned a BA in philosophy from Seattle University, and his law degree from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He graduated from both schools with high honors, and won numerous awards for service and
A poultry company in England has disclosed how a Salmonella contamination incident will likely cost it £2.1 million ($2.8 million).
Between March 23 and April 10 this year,
Almost half of companies think food safety and health are among their biggest risks, according to a recent survey.
A total of 45 percent named these topics as their main
Danone has confirmed earlier estimates on the cost of its infant formula recall.
In January 2026, Danone announced a recall of some infant formula batches. Most of them were sold
OPINION
In an article that will soon be published in the Seattle Law Review, I take a look at food safety through the lens of the “pink slime” controversy and
“Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, Or what’s a heaven for?”
— from Robert Browning’s “Andrea del Sarto”
Part 2: Does case law support FDA’
