Tag: organic
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Plaintiff Challenges “ColdPressed” Label Claim
A consumer has filed a putative class action alleging the Hain Celestial Group’s “ColdPressed” juice products are mislabeled because a third-party company, which manufactures some of the product, heats the juice during high-pressure processing, causing a “compositional change.” Davis v. Hain Celestial Grp., No. 17- 5191 (E.D.N.Y., filed September 3, 2017). The complaint challenges two…
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Industry Group Sues USDA Over Delay of Organic Livestock Rule
The Organic Trade Association has filed a lawsuit to compel the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to implement the Organic Livestock Rule, which was scheduled to take effect on March 18, 2017. Organic Trade Ass’n v. U.S. Dep’t of Agric., No. 17-1875 (D.D.C., filed September 13, 2017). After 10 years of public process and hearing,…
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Kuster Introduces Organic-Farming Bill
Rep. Ann Kuster (D-N.H.) has introduced a bill that aims to help farmers transition to organic agriculture and boost American production of organic products to reduce dependence on imports. The Homegrown Organic Act of 2017 would amend the Food Security Act of 1985 by modifying existing conservation programs to help farmers who are working toward…
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Plaintiff Files Class Action Claiming Organic Candy Contains No Real Fruit
A California plaintiff has filed a lawsuit alleging the Organic Candy Factory’s peach, boysenberry, blackberry and raspberry gummy candies contain “substitute flavors” rather than real fruit. Arabian v. Organic Candy Factory, No. 17-5410 (C.D. Cal., filed July 21, 2017). The plaintiff asserts that the company markets its gummy bears and gummy-filled chocolate as containing “nothing…
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Plaintiff Claims Legal Malpractice in Product Liability Suit Against Townsend Farms
A California man has filed a legal malpractice claim against lawyers who allegedly failed to represent him adequately in his suit against fruit processor Townsend Farms, in which he claimed he contracted hepatitis A after eating the company’s Organic Antioxidant Blend. Durrell v. Taylor, Sullivan & Mondorf, No. BC667419 (Cal. Sup. Ct., Los Angeles Cty.,…
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ASA Blocks Dairy Farm’s Environmental Advertising
The U.K. Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) upheld a complaint arguing an advertisement for Arla Foods’ organic milk was misleading because it included the statements “Good for the land” and “helping support a more sustainable future.” ASA reviewed evidence the company provided about its organic farming methods but concluded that the dairy had failed to substantiate…
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Washington Post Details Fraudulent Corn and Soybean Imports
A Washington Post report tracking multiple shipments of corn and soybeans imported from Turkey has purportedly found that the food was sold in the U.S. market fraudulently labeled as organic. The article argues that U.S. Department of Agriculture organic standards create loopholes that allow fraud to slip through. Organic corn and soybeans grown outside of…
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USDA Postpones Organic Livestock and Poultry Rule
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has delayed the effective date of a final rule amending organic livestock and poultry requirements and requests additional public comment. The effective date of the rule has been postponed from May 19, 2017, to November 14, 2017. Interested parties may submit written comments by June 9, 2017. Issue…