I have thought up a good idea for a new food product and would like to offer it to a company, but to do that (I was informed by my dad) I need proof that this idea is mine so no one can steal it and such, registration of a food product? I need to know how to go on to this. A website perhaps? Please help, many thanks!

jjwoodhull

Try the website LegalZoom: Online Legal Document Services: LLC,Divorce,Wills,Incorporation & More They do things like contracts, trademarks, forming corporations... I don't know that this is the answer, but it might be.

Jinxz

Alrighty, I shall check, but I think the Divorce part wont help LOL, but Thanks, I shall check!

Clough

Are you in the United States? If not, what country, please? The ways to go about this will vary depending on the laws of the country.

If you would let us know what kind of food this is, that would also help us to help you the best here. It might not need to be approved at all other than by the store that will market it for you. Or, it may need the approval of a government agency of some kind depending on what it is made out of and the other food processing products that might be used to make it.

If in the U.S., the following sites might be the ones where you might find the information that you need. But again, it does depend on what it is made out of and the other food processing products that might be used to make it.

U S Food and Drug Administration Home Page

United States Department of Agriculture - Home

Thanks!

Jinxz

Its just a simple junk food snack. I live in Canada, would I even be able to make some money if I proposed my product to the company and they accepted it? If it is not approved, couldnt they steal the idea if they declined and say it was their idea. All I have is my brain for proof, I dont have the material to make my product so thats why I want to propose it to the company. They would produce my idea basicaly. Also I searched and the company I was wanting to offer it and they produce the ingredients needed already and I havent found my idea on the market on google.

Clough

What is it made out of though? That is the crux of the issue here.

Thanks!

Jinxz

basically, marshmallows! yum

Clough

You could take it to a store, present how you will package it and see if they would sell it for you. As I have already mentioned in a post above, it might not need any approval other than the store that will be selling it for you. I don't know about the laws in Canada concerning this, but it might be possible that you will need some sort of certification and/or license from the Canadian government in order to market your product as to its safety for the general populace to consume, and the way that you prepare/make it might also be an issue.

Canada Food Producers License - Google Search

Jinxz

The thing is I just have a idea, not the actual product or the packaging. I was thinking the company could make it because they sell the ingredients already. I would need special equipment for it which I dont have.

Clough

Thanks! Now we know that you aren't really prepared with everything that you need to be able to produce and market your product, but you could be, if you knew everything about what you need to do.

What I would recommend doing, is that you go to a grocery store and ask to speak with a manager. You could tell him or her that you want to know all about the process of how products get purchased by the store to be sold and get placed on the shelves in order to be purchased by the customers. You could also do the same thing by visiting a factory that processes/makes food and/or candy.

When I was a kid, a friend and I were very curious as to what went on in a building that had formerly been a school but was then being used for something else. We knocked on a door and asked to have a tour of building and what went on in the building. The man was very glad to show us around and answer our questions.

It never hurts to ask if it is something that could be to help with you being educated about something! You just might get quite an education for free if you ask the right person!