Category: 1st Circuit

  • “Kosher” Label on Hummus Challenged

    A kosher certification organization has filed a lawsuit alleging International Food Products Inc., which does business as Sabra Foods, misleads consumers as to whether its hummus products are kosher. Rabbinical Council of Mass. v. Int’l Food Products, Inc., No. 22-11460 (D. Mass., Boston Div., filed September 9, 2022). The Rabbinical Council of Massachusetts, or KVH Kosher,…

  • Court Dismisses Part of Gorton’s “Sustainably Sourced” Lawsuit

    A Massachusetts federal court has granted a motion to dismiss a request for injunctive relief but allowed to continue other claims alleging that Gorton’s Inc. misleads consumers by marketing its tilapia products as “sustainably sourced.” Spindel v. Gorton’s Inc., No. 22-10599 (D. Mass., entered August 24, 2022). The court noted that in a hearing, Gorton’s…

  • New England Hospitality Groups Challenge Massachusetts Animal Cruelty Law

    The National Pork Producers Council and a group of organizations representing restaurants and hotels in New England have filed a lawsuit aiming to enjoin Massachusetts from enforcing a law set to take effect August 15, 2022, banning the sale of pork produced from animals “that the business owner or operator knows or should know is…

  • Lawsuit Alleges Market Basket Coffee Serving Sizes Mislead

    A plaintiff has filed a putative class action alleging Demoulas Super Markets Inc. includes representations on its Market Basket coffee indicating that the tins hold 76 to 79 cups of coffee but only contain 37 to 39 cups when prepared according to the label’s instructions. Cohen v. Demoulas Super Mkts. Inc., No. 21-10177 (D. Mass., filed…

  • Massachusetts Court Dismisses Ginger Ale Claims

    A Massachusetts federal court has dismissed allegations against Polar Corp. asserting the company’s ginger ale products contain a “miniscule amount” of ginger that “provides none of the health benefits consumers associate with real ginger.” Fitzgerald v. Polar Corp., No. 20-10877 (D. Mass., entered November 10, 2020). The court noted that the complaint “appears to have been…

  • Marijuana Dispensaries Challenge Executive Order Closing Recreational-Use Stores

    Several dispensaries of recreational marijuana in Massachusetts have filed a lawsuit alleging that Governor Charlie Baker exceeded his authority by classifying recreational-use marijuana retail establishments as non-essential while declaring medical-marijuana dispensaries and liquor stores as essential during a statewide shutdown to combat the spread of COVID-19. CommCan Inc. v. Baker, No. 2084CV00808 (Mass. Super. Ct.,…

  • Company Misleads on CBD Content, Consumer Alleges

    A consumer has filed a putative class action alleging that the labels of Global Widget’s products containing cannabidiol (CBD), including gummies, lollipops and syrup, do not identify an accurate amount of CBD in the products. Ahumada v. Global Widget LLC, No. 12005 (D. Mass., filed September 24, 2019). “Defendant makes numerous false and misleading claims…

  • Honey Bunches of Oats Mislabeling Suit Dismissed

    A Massachusetts federal court has dismissed a lawsuit alleging that Post Consumer Brands misleads consumers by implying that Honey Bunches of Oats is primarily sweetened with honey rather than sugar, brown sugar and corn syrup. Lima v. Post Consumer Brands LLC, No. 18-12100 (D. Mass., entered August 13, 2019). Post argued that “honey” describes “one…