Tag: California

  • Kroger’s Fruit-Flavored Sparkling Water Lacks Fruit, Plaintiff Alleges

    A consumer has alleged that The Kroger Co. misleads with its packaging for sparkling water products sold with flavors such as “Black Cherry,” “White Grape” and “Kiwi Strawberry” because the waters are purportedly flavored artificially rather than with extracts of the fruits. Gammino v. Kroger Co., No. 21-2933 (N.D. Cal., filed April 22, 2021). The…

  • Foods Grown Hydroponically Can Be Labeled “Organic,” Court Affirms

    The National Organic Program can continue to include foods grown through hydroponics following a ruling from a California federal court holding that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) acted reasonably in concluding that the statutory scheme does not exclude hydroponics. Ctr. for Food Safety v. Perdue, No. 20-1537 (N.D. Cal., entered March 18, 2021). The…

  • Court Issues Injunction on Prop. 65 Acrylamide Enforcement Through Lawsuits

    A California federal court has ruled that the state “has not shown that the cancer warnings it requires are purely factual and uncontroversial” or “that Proposition 65 imposes no undue burden on those who would provide a more carefully worded warning.” Cal. Chamber of Com. v. Becerra, No. 19-2019 (E.D. Cal., entered March 29, 2021).…

  • OEHHA to List PFOA on Prop. 65 List

    The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has announced that it intends to add perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) to the list of substances known to cause cancer or reproductive harm under the state’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Prop. 65). PFOA, known as a “forever chemical,” can be found in…

  • Appeals Court Affirms Dismissal of Foster Farms Animal Welfare Lawsuit

    A California appeals court has declined to revive a lawsuit alleging that packaging for Foster Poultry Farms Inc. products misleads consumers by featuring a certification that the animals are treated humanely. Leining v. Foster Poultry Farms Inc., No. B291600 (Cal. App. Ct., 2nd Dist., entered February 23, 2021). The plaintiff had alleged that she believed…

  • Post Foods to Pay $15 Million to Settle Added Sugar Lawsuit

    A California federal court has approved the settlement of a lawsuit alleging Post Foods LLC misrepresented the nutritional value of its cereals because of the added sugar content. Krommenhock v. Post Foods LLC, No. 16-4958 (N.D. Cal., entered February 24, 2021). Under the settlement agreement, Post will pay $15 million to the nationwide class and remove…

  • Lawsuit Challenging USDA Pork Inspection Policy to Continue

    A California federal court has denied a motion to dismiss an advocacy group lawsuit brought against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) challenging the implementation of the Food Safety and Inspection Service’s New Swine Inspection System (NSIS). Ctr. for Food Safety v. Perdue, No. 20-0256 (N.D. Cal., entered February 4, 2021). The plaintiffs, several advocacy…

  • California Files Prop. 65 Action Against Seafood Cos.

    California Attorney General Xavier Becerra filed a lawsuit against five importers, wholesalers and distributors of seafood, alleging they sell fish with levels of cadmium and lead high enough to require warnings governed by the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act (Prop. 65). California v. Pacific Am. Fish Co. Inc. (Cal. Super. Ct., filed December 28, 2020).…