Tag: trans fat
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General Mills Trans Fat Case Stayed for FDA Guidance
A California federal court has granted a stay awaiting guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in a putative class action alleging that General Mills uses partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, which contain trans fat, in its baking mixes. Backus v. Gen. Mills, Inc., No. 15-1964 (N.D. Cal., order entered August 18, 2015). After…
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Previous Trans Fat Litigation Proves Plaintiff’s Knowledge, Court Finds
After dismissing a portion of the claims in July 2015, a California federal court has dismissed the remaining claims in a lawsuit against Nissin Foods Co. Inc. alleging that the use of partially hydrogenated oil (PHO) violates California law. Guttmann v. Nissin Foods (U.S.A.) Co., Inc., No. 15-0567 (N.D. Cal., order entered August 14, 2015). The…
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GMA Petitions FDA for Specific Uses of Trans Fat
The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) has petitioned the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) “to approve specific low-level uses of partially hydrogenated oil (PHOs) in food products.” According to an August 5, 2015, press release, the petition seeks approval to use PHOs for color, flavor and texture when “important for the production of safe food…
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California Court Dismisses Labeling Claims from Cup Noodles® Trans Fat Dispute
A California federal court has dismissed claims challenging the trans fats labeling of Nissin Foods Co. Inc.’s Cup Noodles® but allowed to continue allegations that the use of partially hydrogenated oil (PHO) violates California law. Guttmann v. Nissin Foods (U.S.A.) Co., Inc., No. 15-0567 (N.D. Cal., order entered July 15, 2015). The plaintiff challenged the…
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FDA Revokes GRAS Status of Partially Hydrogenated Oils
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a determination revoking the generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status of partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), “the primary dietary source of industrially-produced trans fatty acids.” To comply with the declaratory order, food and beverage companies must remove PHOs from products by June 18, 2018, or request food…
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Heinz Frozen Tater Tots and Fries Contain Trans Fats, Putative Class Action Alleges
A consumer has filed a putative class action against H.J. Heinz Co. alleging that the company’s frozen microwave French fries and tater tots contain partially hydrogenated oil (PHO), which contains artificial trans fat, despite packaging that indicates the products contain “0g trans fat.” Backus v. H.J. Heinz Co., No. 15-2738 (N.D. Cal., filed June 18,…
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Trans Fat Putative Class Actions Filed Against General Mills, Nestlé
A California man has filed purported class actions against Nestlé USA Inc. and General Mills Inc. claiming that both companies use trans fat in their products—specifically, General Mills’ baking mixes and Nestlé’s coffee creamers—despite the availability of acceptable alternative ingredients without trans fat. Backus v. Gen. Mills Inc., No. 15-1964 (N.D. Cal., filed April 30,…
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Putative Class Action Targets Kind LLC’s “Healthy” Claim
Days after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a March 2015 letter warning Kind LLC against using the word “healthy” to describe several of its products, a consumer filed a class action against the company alleging negligent misrepresentation and violations of California consumer protection statutes. Kaufer v. Kind LLC, No. 15-2878 (C.D. Cal.,…