The Stained Story of Red Dye No. 3

Posted on February 26, 2025Categories FDA, Food and Drug Law

In January 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a ban on the use of Red Dye No. 3 (erythrosine) in food and ingested drugs. The main concern regarding the dye is that it is a potential carcinogen; studies from the 1980s found laboratory rats which were fed Erythrosine developed thyroid cancer. According to the Environmental Working Group, there are approximately 2,900 food products currently in the market that contain the dye, such as cherry sodas, candies, and frosting (not to mention medicines and supplements). While the ban is a step in the right direction, it is far overdue and leaves questions about what should be done about other artificial dyes that remain in the market.
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Card Declined: CFPB Withdraws Proposed Rule Banning Nonsufficient Funds

Posted on February 26, 2025Categories Banking

On January 24, 2024, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB proposed a rule that would block non-sufficient funds (NSF) fees on debit card, ATM, and peer-to-peer payment transactions that are declined instantaneously or nearly instantaneously. The proposal of this rule arose from a variety of initiatives under the CFPB of the Biden administration to crack down on “junk fees” charged by banks and other financial institutions. However, on January 14, 2025 the CFPB issued notice to withdraw their proposed rule regarding NSF fees.
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Eggflation: The Rising Cost of Eggs and Its Impact on Consumers

Posted on February 21, 2025Categories Antitrust, FDA, FTC

Egg prices are soaring, but is it just supply issues—or something more? While avian flu and regulations have strained production, major suppliers are raking in record profits, raising suspicions of price manipulation. A federal jury recently found top producers guilty of price-fixing, fueling concerns that consumers are being taken advantage of. As grocery bills climb, the question remains: who’s really cracking under pressure?
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The RegTech Revolution: Automating Compliance in a Complex Regulatory Landscape

Posted on February 21, 2025Categories Finance & Banking, technology, Uncategorized

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, organizations face an ever-expanding array of regulations and compliance requirements. To navigate this complex environment, many businesses are turning to Regulatory Technology, or RegTech, to automate compliance processes. While automation promises increased efficiency and reduced costs, it also raises concerns about added complexities and potential risks. Is relying on technology to handle compliance a prudent strategy, or would this add layers to an already tangled web?
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Should Private Equity Be Involved in Collegiate Sports?

Posted on February 21, 2025Categories Athletic Regulation

In October 2024, a judge gave preliminary approval of a settlement over a multibillion-dollar class action lawsuit involving former collegiate athletes being denied compensation, House v. NCAA. One of the settlement conditions will be that universities can now pay players directly. Teams must now decide whether to pay players directly or rely on NIL compensation to remain competitive in recruiting top talent. This demand for players has made some speculate that conferences and their member universities will turn to private equity to help fund these teams.
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Is NIL the Killer or the Key to Classifying Student-Athletes as Employees?

Posted on February 20, 2025Categories Athletic Regulation, Employment

Will name, image, and likeness (NIL) accelerate or hinder student-athletes being classified as employees? NIL refers to a person’s legal right to control how their image is used. For several years, college athletes forfeited these rights when they signed with collegiate sports teams. However, three years ago, NCAA rules changed, allowing athletes to profit off their NIL. Even without NIL deals, an increasing number of student-athletes have sought compensation while playing for universities. Student-athletes have sought compensation ranging from travel expenses to minimum wage. Historically, student-athletes have not been considered employees under labor and employment laws. Recently, courts have been divided on whether athletes receiving compensation should be considered a student or an employee. The addition of NIL rights that allows student-athletes to receive payment might be the factor that will ultimately decide this issue.

President Trump Wants to Ban the Federal Income Tax: Its Feasibility, Likelihood, & Possible Outcomes

Posted on February 19, 2025Categories tax

Amongst some of the recent policy proposals made by the new administration in the White House, President Donald Trump has discussed the possibly of eliminating federal income taxes. He said, “We’re going back to the old days. No income tax, just tariffs. It worked before, and it’ll work again.” This controversial, bold proposal has sparked some significant and intense debate over its potential impacts on the economy, overall feasibility, and likely impacts on everyday Americans. President Trump hopes to replace income taxes with alternative revenue sources including tariffs and consumption taxes. The arguments on both sides are quite interesting.
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Subsidized Addiction: America’s Sweet Problem

Posted on February 14, 2025Categories FDA, health

Today, Americans are becoming more aware and concerned about the additives in their food that have carcinogenic and other adverse health effects. This increased scrutiny in American nutrition, particularly for children, has been spearheaded by the “Make America Healthy Again” Movement, which seeks higher standards in regulations of what is allowed in food and more transparency for food products. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is shifting in the same direction of promulgating stricter food standards, as it recently finalized rules banning the artificial food additive Red No. 3 and updating the standards manufacturers must meet to advertise as “healthy.” However, while agencies and activists work to keep chemical and artificial additives out of American foods, a glaring issue remains. Americans have a sugar addiction problem, and the government is their enablers.

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Glass Skin Meets Red Tape: How Korean Beauty Navigates FDA Rules

Posted on February 13, 2025Categories FDA, Food and Drug Law

Among the trends of self-care lies skincare. As self-care has increased in popularity over the last few years, skincare has become increasingly trendy. In 2022, there was a boost in skincare sales with products such as anti-aging products and moisturizers. In the skincare industry, there are known and established brands, but what has recently emerged through popularity on social media and TikTok is Korean beauty (“K-beauty”) products. K-beauty products help consumers achieve “glass skin,” which is clear, poreless, and shiny skin that looks like glass by using specific K-beauty products. In the states, sunscreen is a staple K-beauty product that has emerged.
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Mass Deportation and the Fall of Immigration Detention Regulations

Posted on February 13, 2025Categories Department of Justice

As the Trump administration ushers in a new era of mass deportation and hysteria, “sanctuary” communities like Chicago are more important now than ever. The term “sanctuary” generally refers to states, counties or cities that have policies that limit the extent to which a local officials will cooperate with federal agencies’ efforts to deport undocumented persons. Recently, regulations concerning detention and deportations of undocumented immigrants have rapidly devolved, along with what protections they offered to these communities. Previous regulations were similarly deferential to federal enforcement agencies, particularly U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). However, the current administration is actively working to broaden federal authorities’ power to deport immigrants who are not lawfully in the U.S. and have been accused, rather than convicted, of crimes. One way the administration seeks to do so is by loosening its regulation of the methods ICE may use to conduct arrests as well as the role state and local law enforcement may play in such operations. Biden administration’s discontinuing the practice of mass immigration sweeps at worksites such as factories is just one of the limitations that has been discarded. This leaves already fragile protections for undocumented persons to the wayside, resulting in unnecessary harm and suffering to thousands of undocumented persons and citizens.
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