Food & Beverage Litigation & Regulatory Update

Tag: labeling

  • Study Compares Menu Items in U.K. Restaurants With and Without Calorie Labels

    U.K. researchers have published the findings of a comparison of calorie counts on menu items in restaurants that feature labeling of those counts and in restaurants without such labeling. Dolly R.Z. Theis & Jean Adams, “Differences in energy and nutritional content of menu items served by popular UK chain restaurants with versus without voluntary menu…

  • Plaintiff Argues Premature Honey Harvest Reduces Antioxidants, Misleading Consumers

    A consumer has filed a putative class action arguing that Dutch Gold Honey Inc. sells honey that lacks the antioxidants for which consumers purchase buckwheat honey, allegedly amounting to fraudulent misrepresentation and fraudulent concealment. Wolfe v. Dutch Gold Honey Inc., No. 19-4562 (E.D. Penn., filed October 1, 2019). “Unknown to Plaintiff and the Class, the…

  • GAO Issues Report on “Use By” Labeling

    The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has conducted a study on how “use by” and “best by” dates on food products could be improved to reduce food waste. The agency examined actions by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and concluded with the recommendation that “USDA and FDA develop…

  • Guidance Released on Converting Vitamin Measures for Nutrition Label

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Nutrition and Food Labeling has released guidance providing “step-by-step instructions to manufacturers of retail food products marketed in the United States on how they may convert the previous units of measure for certain nutrients to the new units in the updated Nutrition Facts label.” The guidance also…

  • Bipartisan Bill Introduced to Standardize Food Date Labels

    U.S. Reps. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) have introduced the Food Date Labeling Act, which aims to “end consumer confusion around food date labeling and ensure Americans do not throw out perfectly good food,” according to a press release. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) has introduced a companion bill in the Senate. The proposed…

  • Crystal Farms Wins Dismissal of Butter Lawsuit

    A New York federal court has granted Crystal Farms Refrigerated Distribution Co.’s motion to dismiss a putative class action alleging that the packaging of Diner’s Choice mashed potatoes misleads consumers by featuring “Made with Real Butter” on the front despite containing both butter and margarine. Reyes v. Crystal Farms Refrigerated Distrib. Co., No. 18-2250 (E.D.N.Y.,…

  • UK Opens Consultation on Health and Nutrition

    The U.K. Cabinet Office has begun an open consultation on general health policies, including nutrition initiatives. The consultation includes an announcement that the government will ban the sale of energy drinks to children under 16, with the full policy to be announced “in our consultation response shortly.” The consultation response will also include details of…

  • RFK Jr. Group Sues Baby Food Co. for “Natural” Representation

    Children’s Health Defense, an organization founded and chaired by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., has filed a lawsuit alleging that Beech-Nut Nutrition Co. misrepresents its baby-food products as “100% natural” despite containing pesticide residues. Children’s Health Def. v. Beech-Nut Nutrition Co., No. 2019 CA 4475 (D.C. Super. Ct., filed July 8, 2019). The organization alleges that…