Category: 2nd Circuit

  • Consumer Putative Class Action Targets McCormick’s Alleged Slack-Filled Pepper Tins

    Echoing a lawsuit brought a week earlier by a competitor in the pepper category, a consumer has filed a proposed class action against McCormick & Co. alleging that the company underfills its tins of black pepper because it reduced the pepper in each tin by 25 percent but retained the traditional packaging size. Dupler v.…

  • Inko’s® Tea Contains Unnatural Ascorbic Acid, Proposed Class Action Alleges

    A group of plaintiffs has filed a putative class action against Inko’s Tea alleging that the company’s tea products contain ascorbic acid, “a non-natural, highly chemically processed ingredient regularly used as a preservative,” despite advertising the products as “100% Natural.” Collazo v. Inko’s Tea, LLC, No. 15-3070 (E.D.N.Y., filed June 8, 2015). Inko’s has consistently…

  • Kahlua® Makers Pursue “Kahfua” Makers in Court

    Absolut Co. has filed a complaint and a motion for an injunction against Happy Hearts Wine LLC, a New York City importer of Israeli wine, after Absolut noticed a Certificate of Label Approval filed with the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau for “Kahfua,” which it alleges is too close to Kahlua®. Absolut Co.…

  • Putative Class Action Challenges Gerber’s Infant Formula Immunity Benefits Claims

    Two plaintiffs have filed a lawsuit against Gerber Products Co. alleging that the company misrepresented its Gerber® Good Start® infant formula by advertising it as the “first and only formula whose consumption reduces the risk of infants developing allergies.” Hasemann v. Gerber Prods. Co., No. 15-2995 (E.D.N.Y., filed May 21, 2015). The complaint echoes a…

  • Abbott Labs Faces Proposed Class Action over “Organic” Infant Formula

    A group of consumers has filed a putative class action against Abbott Laboratories, Inc. alleging the company misrepresents its Similac Advance® Organic Infant Formulas because several of the ingredients are banned by federal law from use in food labeled “organic.” Marentette v. Abbott Labs., Inc., No. 15-2837 (E.D.N.Y., filed May 15, 2015). The plaintiffs challenge…

  • OFPA Does Not Preempt Putative Class Challenge to “Organic” Labels, Court Finds

    A New York federal court has granted in part and denied in part a motion to dismiss a lawsuit alleging that Hain Celestial’s Earth’s Best® food and body-care products are deceivingly labeled as “organic,” finding that the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) does not preempt the plaintiffs’ claims. Segedie v. Hain Celestial Grp., No. 14-5029…

  • Industry Groups Appeal Injunction Denial in Vermont GMO Labeling Case

    The food industry groups challenging Vermont’s statute requiring the labeling of food containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have filed a notice of appeal one week after a Vermont federal court denied their motion for an injunction to stop the law from taking effect on July 1, 2016. Grocery Mfrs. Ass’n v. Sorrell, No. 14-0117 (D.…

  • Red Bull False Advertising Settlement Approved

    A New York federal court has reportedly approved an agreement between Red Bull GmbH and a class of consumers, settling allegations that Red Bull falsely advertised its product as providing more benefit than coffee provides. Careathers v. Red Bull N. Am. Inc., No. 13-0369 (S.D.N.Y., order entered May 1, 2015); Wolf v. Red Bull GmbH,…