Category: Issue
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France Targets Non-French Wine, Champagne
France’s Institut National de l’Origine et de la Qualité has filed an opposition with the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board contesting Teastream LLC’s application to register “Champagne’s Sober Cousin” for tea products. Institut National de l’Origine et de la Qualité v. Teastream LLC, No. 91241975 (T.T.A.B., opposition filed June 25, 2018). The French agency…
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Seattle Plastic Straw, Utensils Ban Takes Effect
Seattle’s ban on plastic straws and utensils took effect July 1, 2018, after the expiration of an exemption in a 2008 law requiring one-time-use food-service items to be compostable or recyclable. The law, which includes a medical necessity exception, can impose fines of $250 on businesses that fail to comply. Other U.S. cities have considered…
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Lawsuit Challenges “Alkaline” Water Claims
A consumer has filed a putative class action alleging Trader Joe’s Co. misleads consumers with its alkaline water, which the company purportedly markets as “ionized to achieve the perfect balance.” Weiss v. Trader Joe’s Co., No. 18-1130 (C.D. Cal., S. Div., filed June 26, 2018). The complaint asserts that Trader Joe’s charges a premium for…
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Study Purports to Find Increased Consumer Acceptance of GMOs After Labeling Mandate
Researchers at the University of Vermont have published the results of a study comparing consumer attitudes towards genetically modified organisms (GMOs) before and after implementation of the state’s labeling mandate. Jane Kolodinsky et al., “Mandatory labels can improve attitudes toward genetically engineered food,” Science Advances, June 27, 2018. Funded in part by the U.S. Department…
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U.S. Seeks Injunction Against Meat Wholesaler For Mislabeling
Federal prosecutors in Chicago are seeking an injunction against Kingdom Farms Wholesale Meats Inc. for allegedly packaging, selling and transporting products without federal marks of inspection and required labeling. U.S. v. Kingdom Farms Wholesale Meats Inc., No. 18-4155 (N.D. Ill., filed June 14, 2018). The complaint asserts that Kingdom Farms removed products from properly labeled shipping containers and…
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Whole Foods Wins Partial Summary Judgment in Sugar Dispute
A federal court in Texas has granted partial summary judgment to WFM Private Label L.P., a subsidiary of Whole Foods Market Inc., in a contract dispute related to 365 Everyday Value Greek yogurt’s sugar content. WFM Private Label, L.P., v. 1048547 Ontario Inc., No. 14-1013 (W.D. Tex., entered June 18, 2018). Whole Foods hired Skotidakis Goat Farm (SGF)…
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Halo Top Underfills Pints, Lawsuit Alleges
Two consumers have filed a putative class action alleging that Eden Creamery “underfills its ‘pints’ of ice cream”—“[d]ramatically so at times, and as a course of business.” Kamal v. Eden Creamery LLC, No. 18-1298 (S.D. Cal., filed June 15, 2018). The complaint alleges, “Purchasers of the premium-priced ice cream simply have no idea how much ice…
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Plaintiff Drops “Real Ginger Ale” Suit Against Dr Pepper Snapple Group
A Missouri federal court has dismissed with prejudice a putative class action alleging Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. mislabels Canada Dry Ginger Ale because it does not contain ginger. Webb v. Dr Pepper Snapple Grp. Inc., No. 17-0624 (W.D. Mo., entered June 21, 2018). The court approved a stipulated voluntary dismissal filed by the named plaintiff. In April…