Category: Issue 688

  • Kombucha Sugar, Alcohol Claims Dismissed

    Two California courts have dismissed lawsuits brought by a competitor alleging kombucha companies misrepresented the amount of sugar and alcohol in their products. Tortilla Factory LLC v. Rowdy Mermaid Kombucha LLC, No. 18-2984 (C.D. Cal., entered September 11, 2018); Tortilla Factory LLC v. Better Booch LLC, No. 18-2980 (C.D. Cal., entered September 13, 2018). In…

  • EEOC Alleges Harassment, Gender Bias at Del Taco

    The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed a lawsuit alleging that Del Taco LLC failed to provide “a conciliation agreement acceptable to the Commission” following allegations of discriminatory practices against female employees. EEOC v. Del Taco LLC, No. 18-1978 (C.D. Cal., filed September 17, 2018). Allegations include sexual harassment of female employees by…

  • Ninth Circuit Affirms Olive-Oil Class-Action Settlement

    The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has rejected a class member’s objection to a settlement between Salov North America Corp. and a class of Filippo Berio olive-oil purchasers. Kumar v. Salov N. Am. Corp., No. 17-16405 (9th Cir., entered September 11, 2018). The appeals court held that the district court properly found…

  • FDA Provides Update on Antimicrobial Resistance

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published Commissioner Scott Gottlieb’s September 14, 2018, remarks delivered at the Pew Charitable Trusts on the issue of antimicrobial resistance, including the effects of antibiotics in animals raised for food production. Gottlieb indicated that the agency will release “a draft strategy, likely as a new guidance for…

  • Proposed Law Would Ban Dog and Cat Slaughter for Consumption

    The U.S. House of Representatives has passed Rep. Vern Buchanan’s (R-Fla.) Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act of 2018, a bill that would prohibit the slaughter of dogs and cats for the purpose of human consumption. The bill would also prohibit the knowing sale or donation of a dog or cat to a person…

  • Trader Joe’s to Settle Tuna Slack-Fill Class Action

    Trader Joe’s has agreed to pay $1.3 million to settle allegations that it underfills its five-ounce tuna cans. In re Trader Joe’s Tuna Litig., No. 16-1371 (C.D. Cal., motion filed September 14, 2018). Under the agreement, class members will receive $29, which will be diluted pro rata if the total amount of claims exceeds the…