Tag: preservative
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Plaintiff Reaches Agreement with Skinnygirl in Margarita False Advertising Suit
Skinnygirl Cocktails, LLC and a consumer have filed a joint stipulation of dismissal in a lawsuit alleging that the company and its reality-TV star founder, Bethenny Frankel, mislabeled its Margarita cocktail as “natural” despite containing the preservative sodium benzoate. Langendorf v. Skinnygirl Cocktails, LLC, No. 11-7060 (N.D. Ill., joint stipulation of voluntary dismissal with prejudice…
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EWG Launches Campaign Against Foods Containing Propylparaben
An Environmental Working Group (EWG) investigation has reportedly concluded that 49 processed snack foods contain propylparaben, a preservative commonly found in cosmetic products. In light of its findings and various studies allegedly linking exposure to the chemical to decreased fertility and other hormone-related issues, EWG is urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to reconsider…
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Plaintiff’s Failure to Define “Natural” Dooms Kettle Chip Labeling Suit
A Missouri federal court has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the “all natural” labels of Cape Cod Chips because the plaintiff failed to provide a suitable definition of “natural.” Kelly v. Cape Cod Potato Chip Co., No. 14-119 (W.D. Mo., order entered January 27, 2015). The plaintiff alleged that 16 varieties of Cape Cod Chips were…
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Class Certification Denied in “All Natural” Suit Against Reality Star’s Skinnygirl Margarita
An Illinois federal court has declined to certify a class in a lawsuit alleging that Skinnygirl Margarita, a pre-mixed alcohol beverage sold by Skinnygirl Cocktails, and its founder, Bethenny Frankel of reality show “The Real Housewives of New York City” and talk show “Bethenny,” was labeled as “all natural” despite containing the non-natural preservative sodium…
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EWG Unveils “Food Scores” Database
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has released a database and mobile app that score some 80,000 food products using three criteria—nutrition, ingredient concerns and processing—to inform consumers that “popular brands in many categories are not so much food as they are conveyances for excessive amounts of sugar, salt and preservatives.” According to an October 27,…
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Court Limits Class Certification Grant in “All Natural” Litigation
A federal court in California has certified a nationwide class of consumers as to the injunctive relief requested in litigation against Dole Packaged Foods regarding its labeling claims that certain fruit products are “All Natural” despite the presence of ascorbic acid and citric acid, but limited the damages class to California consumers and the number…
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Safeway Sued for Using Preservative in “100% Natural” Products
A California resident has filed a putative class action on behalf of statewide and nationwide classes alleging that Safeway, Inc. labels and promotes its Open Nature waffle products as “100% Natural” while using the synthetic chemical preservative, alternatively referred to as sodium acid pyrophosphate and disodium dihydrogen pyrophosphate, as an ingredient. Richards v. Safeway, Inc., No.…
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Court Narrows Misbranding Allegations Against Dole
A federal court in California has granted in part and denied in part the motion to dismiss filed by Dole Food Co. in a putative nationwide class action alleging that the company misbrands a number of its fruit products by making certain “all natural,” “fresh,” nutrient content, antioxidant, sugar-free, and health claims, as well as…