Category: Litigation
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Consumer Groups Sue for Alcohol Labeling Requirements
Three consumer groups have filed suit against the U.S. government urging action on a nearly two-decade-old petition seeking greater transparency in alcohol labeling. Center for Science in the Public Interest v. U.S. Dep’t of Treasury, No. 22-2975 (D.D.C., filed October 3, 2022). The plaintiffs—the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Consumer Federation of America…
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Hydroponic Food May Be Labeled as ‘Organic,’ 9th Cir. Rules
A federal appeals court has ruled that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is not clearly required by federal law to issue a regulation barring hydroponic growers from labeling their goods as organic. Ctr. for Food Safety v. Vilsack, No. 21-15883 (9th Cir., entered September 22, 2022). A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of…
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Consumer Alleges Nonni’s ‘Limone’ Biscotti Misleads Consumers on Lemon Content
A Florida consumer has filed a proposed class action against biscotti maker Nonni’s Foods LLC, alleging the company misleads consumers as to how much lemon the company’s limone-flavored biscotti contains. Goldstein v. Nonni’s Foods LLC, No. 22-81462 (S.D. Fla., filed September 21, 2022). The plaintiff’s suit specifically targets representations on the product’s label including “Limone…
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Court Sends GMO Disclosure Regulation Back to USDA for Review
A federal court in California has ruled that solely using QR codes on food packaging is not enough to disclose a product’s bioengineered status to consumers. Natural Grocers v. Vilsack, No. 20-5151 (N.D. Cal., entered September 13, 2022). The ruling was in a suit brought by retailers and non-profit organizations against the U.S. Department of…
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Beyond Meat Faces New Claim that It Misled Consumers on Protein Content
Three consumers have filed a putative class action against alternative-meat manufacturer Beyond Meat, Inc., alleging the company misled consumers as to the amount of protein in its products. Garcia v. Beyond Meat, Inc., No. 22-297 (S.D. Iowa, filed on September 9, 2022). The plaintiffs—who live in Colorado, Iowa and Florida—allege they relied on representations regarding…
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Judge Tosses Claims that MorningStar Veggie Products Misled Consumers
A federal court has dismissed a proposed class action claiming Kellogg misled consumers into believing their “veggie” MorningStar Farms products were exclusively or mostly made with vegetables. Kennard v. Kellogg Sales Co., No. 21-7211 (N.D. Cal., entered September 14, 2022). The plaintiff in the suit alleged Kellogg misleadingly and illegally labels MorningStar Farms “veggie” products,…
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Consumer Alleges 7-11 Misrepresented Peanuts as Naturally Flavored
An Illinois man has sued 7-Eleven, alleging the convenience store chain’s private-label spicy jalapeno-flavored jumbo peanuts misled consumers as to whether they were naturally flavored. Wilim v. 7-Eleven, Inc., No. 22-4886 (N.D. Ill., filed September 9, 2022). The plaintiff said in the suit that he read “Flavored Jumbo Peanuts — Spicy Jalapeño” on the packaging of…
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Putative Class Action Alleges Gerber Made Improper Nutrient Claims
A California woman has filed a proposed class action claiming that Gerber Products Co. made improper nutrient claims on its labeling of baby and toddler food products. Howard v. Gerber Products Company, No. 22-4779 (N.D. Cal., filed August 19, 2022). The plaintiff alleges that Gerber makes nutrient content claims on product packaging that are prohibited…