Category: Issue
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Texas Rangers Oppose Bacardi’s Application for Stylized “T” Trademark
Rangers Baseball LLC filed then suspended an opposition to Bacardi & Co.’s application to register a trademark for a logo featuring the letter “T,” stylized to feature points extruding from the middle of the character. Opposition No. 91229825 (USPTO, suspended September 2, 2016). The Texas Major League Baseball team filed its notice of opposition on…
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Consumers File TCPA Lawsuit Against Subway
Two consumers have filed a lawsuit against Subway Sandwich Shops Inc. and T-Mobile USA Inc. alleging the companies sent unsolicited text messages advertising an offer for a free sandwich without first obtaining written consent from the recipients. Rahmany v. T-Mobile USA Inc., No. 16-1416 (W.D. Wash., filed September 6, 2016). The complaint asserts that the…
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Pizza Delivery Drivers Granted Class Certification in Tips Dispute
A Massachusetts federal court has granted certification to a class of former and current delivery drivers for Domino’s Pizza Inc. who allege that they should have received the delivery charge paid by customers. Mooney v. Domino’s Pizza, Inc., No. 14-13723 (D. Mass., order entered September 1, 2016). The plaintiffs also asserted that they should have been…
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California Federal Court Dismisses Part of Chipotle GMO False Ad Suit
A California federal court has granted in part and denied in part a motion to dismiss a lawsuit alleging Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. misleadingly advertises its food as free of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) despite allegedly selling flour and corn tortillas with GMOs, using GMO soy in its cooking oils and serving meat and dairy…
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FDA Extends Comment Periods for Draft Industry Guidance on Salt Reduction
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has extended the public comment periods for draft guidance “that provides practical, voluntary sodium reduction targets for the food industry.” Titled ‘‘Voluntary Sodium Reduction Goals: Target Mean and Upper Bound Concentrations for Sodium in Commercially Processed, Packaged, and Prepared Foods,” the guidance sets short- and long-term sodium targets…
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Palm Oil Targeted by Consumer Watchdog’s Viral Video
Timed to coincide with PepsiCo’s limited reintroduction of Crystal Pepsi soft drinks, SumOfUs has launched a viral video campaign to draw attention to its allegations against the palm-oil industry. The video—which spoofs PepsiCo’s 1992 Super Bowl spot—has garnered media attention as well as more than 875,000 views on YouTube. In particular, SumOfUs reportedly claims that…
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AHA Issues Scientific Statement Linking Added Sugars to Cardiovascular Disease in Children
The American Heart Association (AHA) has issued a scientific statement allegedly linking added sugar consumption “at levels far below current consumption levels” to cardiovascular disease risk factors in children. Published in the August 22, 2016, issue of Circulation, the statement recommends that children consume less than 25 grams (100 calories or approximately six teaspoons) of…
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Lawsuits Allege Scallops Caused Hepatitis Outbreak in Hawaii
Two consumers have filed lawsuits against Genki Sushi, Koha Foods and Sea Port Products Corp. alleging they distributed contaminated scallops linked to as many as 206 infections of Hepatitis A. Mauk v. Genki Sushi USA Inc., No. 16-1-1573-08 (Haw. Cir. Ct., filed August 16, 2016); Cuelho v. Genki Sushi USA Inc., No. 16-1-1612-08 (Haw. Cir.…