Category: Issue
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Pringles Salt & Vinegar Lawsuit Denied Certification
A New York federal court has denied class certification to a group of consumers alleging that they were misled by Kellogg Co.’s Pringles Salt & Vinegar chips label into believing the product contained no artificial ingredients. Marotto v. Kellogg Co., No. 18-3545 (S.D.N.Y., entered December 5, 2019). The plaintiff identified himself as a chef who…
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Clif Bar White Chocolate Suit to Continue
A California federal court has denied Clif Bar & Co.’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit alleging that its products marketed as containing white chocolate lack the claimed ingredients. Joslin v. Clif Bar & Co., No. 18-4941 (N.D. Cal., entered December 2, 2019). A previous version of the complaint was dismissed for failure to show that…
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EU Court Denies “Balsamic” as Protected Designation of Origin
The European Court of Justice has reportedly held that “balsamic” as a descriptor for vinegar is not reserved exclusively for producers in Modena, Italy. The case challenged a German vinegar producer’s use of “Balsamico” and “Deutscher Balsamico.” Although “Balsamic Vinegar from Modena” has been a geographic indication within the European Union for more than a…
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Oregon Sens. Request Changes to USDA Hemp Rule
In a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) have requested changes to the interim final rule on hemp production. Wyden and Merkley, who co-wrote the legislation that legalized hemp farming, passed along feedback from Oregon farmers, researchers and regulators, according to a press release. The…
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DeLauro, Gillibrand Urge Transparency in USDA Testing
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) have sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) urging the agency to “adopt a policy of greater transparency with respect to the microbiological testing” that the agency collects from meat slaughter and processing establishments. The letter cites a Salmonella outbreak in ground beef…
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France Backs Down on “Dry January” Campaign
The French government has reportedly abandoned a campaign suggesting French people abstain from drinking alcohol during the month of January following pressure from wine producers. The plan was apparently inspired by a promotion launched by a U.K. advocacy group in 2013 that encourages alcohol abstinence during January and mindful alcohol consumption in the months that…
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Brookside Malic Acid Lawsuit Dismissed
A California federal court has granted summary judgment to The Hershey Co. in a lawsuit alleging that its Brookside chocolates are misleadingly labeled as made with “no artificial flavors” because they contain malic acid. Clark v. Hershey Co., No. 18-6113 (N.D. Cal., entered November 15, 2019). The court found that the named plaintiffs admitted in…
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Vegan Alleges Burger King Deceptively Marketed Impossible Whopper
A plaintiff has filed a putative class action alleging that Burger King Corp. represented its Impossible Whopper in association with the Impossible Burger, which is “well known as a meat-free and vegan meat alternative,” but cooked the Impossible Whoppers “on the same grills as its traditional meat products, thus covering the outside of the Impossible…