Category: Issue 663
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EEOC Alleges Meat Processor Racially Discriminated
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed a lawsuit alleging Chicago Meat Authority Inc. discriminated against African-Americans, resulting in multiple violations of U.S. civil rights statutes. U.S. Equal Opportunity Emp’t Comm’n v. Chicago Meat Authority, Inc., No. 18-1357 (N.D. Ill., filed February 22, 2018). EEOC alleges that the processor (i) failed to recruit…
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Complaint Alleges Counterfeit Use of Kosher Certification Mark
Kosher Supervision Services Inc. (Kof-K) has filed a complaint alleging Original Gourmet Food Co. used the “Kof-K” kosher certification mark on its product without authorization, alleging the snack maker’s action was “intentional and willful use of a counterfeit of the Kof-K mark.” Kosher Supervision Servs. v. Original Gourmet Food Co., No. 18-2487 (D.N.J., filed February…
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Court Refuses to Dismiss Contaminated Dog Food Complaint
A federal court in Washington will allow plaintiffs to amend a false advertising complaint alleging that their dogs became sick after eating pet food contaminated with pentobarbital, a drug used to euthanize animals. Mael v. Evanger’s Dog & Cat Food Co. Inc., No. 17-5469 (W.D. Wash., entered February 20, 2018). The complaint alleged that the…
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Plaintiff Alleges “Ancient Grains” Snack Mostly Made of Rice and Peas
MJS America LLC, maker of “Majans Bhuja Snacks,” faces a putative class action alleging that the primary ingredients of its “Ancient Grains Twists” are rice, peas, tapioca and sunflower or canola oil rather than ancient grains. Louis v. MJS America LLC, No. 18-1046 (E.D.N.Y., filed February 18, 2018). The plaintiff asserts that she paid a…
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Plaintiffs Allege Contaminated Chicken Salad Caused Illness
Two consumers have filed a lawsuit alleging that they contracted Salmonella from deli chicken salad they purchased at Fareway Stores Inc. Porter v. Fareway Stores Inc., No. 18-0050 (S.D. Iowa, filed February 20, 2018). The plaintiffs, a married couple, allege that the contaminated chicken salad sent them to an emergency room—with the wife requiring further hospitalization—and that they…
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Study Reportedly Links Ultra-Processed Foods to Increased Cancer Risk
Researchers in France and Brazil have concluded that a 10 percent increase in the consumption of ultra-processed foods is associated with a “significant increase of greater than 10% in risks of overall and breast cancer.” Thibault Fiolet, et al., “Consumption of ultra-processed food and cancer risks: results from NutriNet-Santé prospective cohort,” BMJ, February 14, 2018. The…
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EU Ruling May Hinder Scotch Group’s Infringement Claim
An EU magistrate has returned a preliminary ruling in a dispute between the Scotch Whisky Association and a German manufacturer of a spirit called “Glen Buchenbach” that may hinder the trade group’s claim of infringement of the registered geographical term “Scotch Whisky.” Scotch Whisky Ass’n, The Registered Office v. Klotz, No. C-44/17 (opinion of advocate…
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Chicken Advertising Claims Not Preempted, Court Finds
Sanderson Farms Inc. lost a motion to dismiss false advertising claims brought by three advocacy organizations when a California federal court ruled that the claims are not preempted by either the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) or the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA). Organic Consumers Ass’n v. Sanderson Farms Inc., No. 17-3592 (N.D. Cal., entered…