Category: Issue
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Ghirardelli, Russell Stover Settle With California DAs
Ghirardelli and Russell Stover have agreed to pay $750,000 to settle allegations brought by the district attorneys of several California counties, according to a Yolo County press release. The California counties alleged that the chocolate companies “packaged certain chocolate products in oversized containers which can give consumers the misleading appearance that they are purchasing more…
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“All Natural” LaCroix Flavors Are “98% Synthetic,” Putative Class Action Alleges
Two consumers have alleged that National Beverage Corporation misleads buyers of LaCroix sparkling water because it advertises the products as “all natural” and “100% natural” while they contain flavors composed of “between 36% and 98% synthetic ingredients.” Graham v. Nat’l Beverage Corp., No. 19-0873 (S.D.N.Y., filed January 29, 2019). The complaint cites the Center for…
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Plaintiff Alleges Coconut Oil Misrepresented as “Healthy”
A consumer has filed a putative class action alleging that Barlean’s Organic Oils misrepresents the health benefits of its coconut oils because “coconut oil is actually inherently unhealthy, and a less healthy option” when compared to “butter and various cooking oils.” Testone v. Barlean’s Organic Oils LLC, No. 19-0169 (S.D. Cal., filed January 24, 2019).…
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Shook Attorneys Detail Class Certification Decision in Ocean Spray Case
Shook Partner Frank Cruz-Alvarez and Associate Rachel Forman have authored an article for WLF Legal Pulse examining a California federal court’s decision to certify a class of consumers alleging they were misled by Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc.’s marketing claim that its products contain no artificial flavoring despite containing malic and fumaric acids. The decision has…
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Graham Crackers with White Flour Mislead Consumers, Lawsuit Alleges
A consumer has filed a putative class action alleging Mondelez Global LLC misleads consumers by making its Honey Maid graham crackers primarily with white flour rather than graham flour. Kennedy v. Mondelez Global LLC, No. 19-0302 (E.D.N.Y., filed January 15, 2019). The complaint alleges that Honey Maid products are marketed as “graham crackers” while the…
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Some FDA Inspectors Called to Work During Shutdown
In a series of tweets, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb announced that about 200 food investigators—of 550—for the agency’s Office of Human and Animal Food Operations have been working during the federal government’s partial shutdown, with additional staff possibly “on the way depending on needs.” Gottlieb further noted which food operations…
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Nebraska Bill to Define “Meat” Withdrawn
A Nebraska state senator has withdrawn a proposed bill to define “meat” as an animal-derived product. Sen. Carol Blood submitted the bill to protect the state’s meat industry, according to the Washington Post. “All I’m asking for is truth in advertising. It’s clear that meat comes from livestock, and livestock is our livelihood in Nebraska,”…
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CFS Files Petition to Ban Hydroponic Agriculture in Organic Food
The Center for Food Safety (CFS) has filed a petition recommending that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibit the use of hydroponic agriculture in the cultivation of organic food. “Hydroponic production systems are fundamentally different from organic production systems as defined by federal law—they do not promote soil health or conserve biodiversity,” the petition…