EXHIBIT 5.1

                               OPINION OF COUNSEL


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                                  June 11, 1997



Landec Corporation
3603 Haven Avenue
Menlo Park, CA  94025-1010

         Registration Statement on Form S-8
         ----------------------------------

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We have examined the Registration  Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration
Statement") to be filed by you with the Securities and Exchange  Commission (the
"Commission")  on or about June 12,  1997 in  connection  with the  registration
under the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,  of a total of 750,000 shares of
your Common Stock  reserved  for  issuance  under the 1996 Stock Option Plan and
750,000  shares  of your  Common  Stock  reserved  for  issuance  under the 1996
Non-Executive Stock Option Plan (collectively the "Shares").  As your counsel in
connection with this transaction, we have examined the proceedings taken and are
familiar with the proceedings proposed to be taken by you in connection with the
sale and issuance of the Shares.

     It is our opinion that upon  conclusion of the  proceedings  being taken or
contemplated  by us, as your  counsel,  to be taken prior to the issuance of the
Shares,  and upon completion of the  proceedings  being taken in order to permit
such  transactions  to be carried out in accordance  with the securities laws of
the various states where required, the Shares when issued and sold in the manner
described  in the  Registration  Statement  will be legally and validly  issued,
fully paid and non-assessable.

     We  consent to the use of this  opinion  as an exhibit to the  Registration
Statement and further  consent to the use of our name wherever  appearing in the
Registration  Statement,  including the Prospectus  constituting a part thereof,
and in any amendment thereto.


                                             Sincerely,

                                             VENTURE LAW GROUP

                                             /s/ Venture Law Group


THN

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