Category: Issue 634
-
Glitch Reveals Pizza Co.’s Facial-Recognition Ad Tactics
An apparent glitch in a Peppes Pizza advertisement in Oslo, Norway, reportedly revealed to passersby that the ad determined whether to show pizza or salad to its audience based on gender as perceived by facial-recognition software. The digital billboard used a hidden camera to scan faces of the audience and showed images of sausage pizza…
-
Court Enters Consent Decree for Animal Feed Maker After FDA Complaint
Syfrett Feed Co., a Florida manufacturer of medicated animal feeds, has entered into a consent decree to control its production process and comply with federal laws before resuming medicated feed operations. U.S. v. Syfrett Feed Co., Inc., No. 17-14038 (S.D. Fla., order entered May 4, 2017). The court entered the decree after the U.S. Food…
-
Truffle Oil False Labeling Suits Filed
Two proposed class actions have been filed in California claiming false labeling of truffle-flavored olive oil. Schiffman v. Urbani Truffles, No. 17-935 (E.D. Cal., filed May 3, 2017); Quiroz v. Sabatino Truffles, No. 17-783 (C.D. Cal., filed May 3, 2017). The plaintiffs argue that the olive oil producers add 2,4 dithiapentane to flavor their products…
-
Court Approves Publicity Plan for Safeway Tuna Settlement
A California federal court has approved a plan to publicize the settlement of a proposed class action filed against Safeway alleging the supermarket chain underfilled its canned tuna. In re Safeway Tuna Cases, No. 15-5078 (N.D. Cal., order entered May 4, 2017). The judge approved the settlement in March 2017 but was concerned that potential…
-
Plaintiff Claims Ginger Snaps Marketing Misleads
A consumer has filed a lawsuit alleging Mondelez International misleadingly markets Ginger Snaps cookies as healthy. Winn v. Mondelez Int’l, No. 17-2524 (N.D. Cal, removed to federal court May 3, 2017). The proposed class action claims that Ginger Snaps packages were marketed with the phrases “Made With Real Ginger and Molasses” and “Sensible Solutions,” leading…
-
Bumble Bee Pleads Guilty to Felony in Price-Fixing Conspiracy
Bumble Bee Foods, LLC has agreed to plead guilty to one felony count for its role in a conspiracy to fix prices of shelf-stable tuna and will pay a minimum $25 million fine. U.S. v. Bumble Bee Foods LLC, No. 17-CR-249 (N.D. Cal. May 8, 2017). According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Bumble Bee…
-
Putative Class Action Claims Slack-Fill Violations in Chocolate Packaging
Candy maker Fannie May faces a proposed class action alleging the confectioner underfilled some of its 7-ounce chocolate boxes by as much as 50 percent. Benson v. Fannie May, No. 17-3519 (N.D. Ill., filed May 10, 2017). The allegations involve boxes of Hot Fudge Truffles, Mint Meltaways , Peanut Butter Buckeyes, milk and dark Sea…
-
Mott’s Applesauce Sued Over “Natural” Labeling
Consumer advocacy group Beyond Pesticides has filed suit against the maker of Mott’s applesauce products, alleging the term “natural” on its labels misleads consumers because the products contain the pesticide acetamiprid. Beyond Pesticides v. Dr Pepper Snapple Grp., No. 2017 CA 003156 B (D.C. Super. Ct., filed May 5, 2017). The plaintiff asserts that the…