Food & Beverage Litigation & Regulatory Update

Category: Issue 785

  • Twenty Years of Food and Beverage Regulatory Developments

    2002  In the 2002 Farm Bill, Congress amended the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to require retailers to notify their customers of the country of origin of covered commodities. 2003 FDA amended its regulations on nutrition labeling to require the inclusion of trans fats on the Nutrition Facts panel for conventional foods and dietary supplements.…

  • Contaminated Trader Joe’s Chicken Burgers Dispute Survives Motion to Dismiss

    A federal court has denied a bid by Pilgrim’s Pride to throw out claims it misrepresented chicken it packaged and sold as “boneless” that wound up in recalled Trader Joe’s Chili Lime Chicken Burgers for having excessive amounts of bone. Innovative Solutions Int’l Inc. v. Houlihan Trading Co., Inc., No. 22-296 (W.D. Wash., entered October…

  • Heavy Metals Baby Food Suit Dismissed for Lack of Standing

    A Virginia federal court has held that plaintiffs alleging Gerber Products Co. sold baby foods adulterated with heavy metals do not have standing to sue. In re Gerber Prods. Co. Heavy Metals Baby Food Litig., No. 21-0269 (E.D. Va., Alexandria Div., entered October 17, 2022). The plaintiffs did not assert standing on the basis of personal…

  • Court Dismisses Labeling Claims Against Baby Food Maker

    A federal court has dismissed a putative class action against baby and toddler-food manufacturer Sprout Foods Inc. after finding the plaintiffs failed to bring plausible claims that the company’s product labeling is misleading. Davidson v. Sprout Foods Inc., No. 22-1050 (N.D. Cal., entered October 21, 2022). The plaintiffs, a California couple, alleged the company’s product…

  • Consumer Alleges Ovaltine Packaging Claims Are Misleading

    A New York woman has brought a putative class action against Nestlé USA Inc. alleging the company makes misleading claims about the nutrition content of its Ovaltine flavored drink mix products. McMenamy v. Nestlé USA Inc., No. 22-1053 (N.D.N.Y., filed October 11, 2022). The plaintiff took issue with labeling including “A Good Source of 12…

  • Evian ‘Carbon Neutral’ Claims Misleading, California Consumer Alleges

    A California woman has filed a proposed class action against Danone Waters of America, alleging its Evian Natural Spring Water product packaging made misleading representations about being carbon neutral. Dorris v. Danone Waters of America, No. 22-8717 (S.D.N.Y., filed October 13, 2022). The plaintiff noted in her suit that the defendant represents on all versions…

  • Barilla “Italy’s #1 Brand of Pasta” Lawsuit to Continue

    A California federal court has denied a motion to dismiss a lawsuit alleging Barilla America Inc. misled consumers as to the source of its pasta products by marketing them as “Italy’s #1 Brand of Pasta.” Sinatro v. Barilla Am. Inc., No. 22-3460 (N.D. Cal., entered October 17, 2022). The court first held that the plaintiffs had…