Food manufacturers may get some tort-reform relief under legislation recently introduced in the U.S. House. Rep. Ric Keller (R-FL) is author of a bill entitled the Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act (H.R. 339), which seeks “to prevent frivolous lawsuits against the manufacturers, distributors or sellers of food or non-alcoholic beverage products that comply with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.”

Under terms of the bill, consumers would not be able to file a lawsuit against food manufacturers “unless the plaintiff proves that, at the time of sale, the product was not in compliance with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.” The legislation currently has 13 co-sponsors and was referred to the House Judiciary Committee for review.