Tag: trans fat
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Federal Court Denies Motion to Settle Trans Fat Margarine Litigation
A federal court in California, presiding over two putative class actions alleging that I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!®, Country Crock® and other cholesterol-free margarines were falsely advertised as nutritious, has denied a joint motion for preliminary approval of a class settlement. Red v. Unilever PLC, No. 10-00387 (N.D. Cal., order filed November 16, 2010).…
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Baltimore Officials Issue Citation for Repeat Trans Fat Ban Violations
The Baltimore City Health Department has reportedly issued its first environmental citation for repeat violations of the city’s trans fat ban. According to an October 25, 2010, press release, the department fined Healthy Choice $100 after inspectors twice found the Lexington Market food vendor using “a margarine product with trans fat levels in excess of…
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Claims Narrowed in Chewy Bars® Trans Fat Class Action
A federal court in California has dismissed on preemption and standing grounds a number of state-law claims against The Quaker Oats Co. in a lawsuit alleging that the company falsely advertises its Chewy Bars® as containing “0 grams trans fat” when the ingredient list labeling includes hydrogenated vegetable oil. Chacanaca v. The Quaker Oats Co.,…
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Japan Weighs Voluntary Disclosure of Trans Fat Content
The Japanese Consumer Affairs Agency has reportedly unveiled draft guidelines that would ask food manufacturers to voluntarily disclose the trans fat content of their products. Intending to finalize the guidelines by the end of 2010, the agency has called for labeling that indicates the amount of trans fat per 100 grams or per meal. The…
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FOP Nutrition Rating Systems Addressed in New IOM Report
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has released the first phase of its report on front-of-package (FOP) rating systems and symbols for food products and recommends that the nutrients of greatest concern to consumers—calories, saturated fats, trans fat, and sodium—as well as serving size, should be highlighted, with calorie-count and serving-size information displayed prominently. According to…
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High Trans Fat Diet Associated with Overweight Infants
A recent study has suggested that mothers who consume diets high in trans fats could double the risk that their babies will have high levels of body fat. Alex Anderson, et al., “Dietary trans fatty acid intake and maternal and infant adiposity,” European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, September 2010. University of Georgia (UGA) researchers studied 95 mothers…
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Federal Court Dismisses False Advertising Claims in Zero Trans Fat Suit Against Food Co.
Finding the plaintiffs’ state-law claims preempted, a federal court in California has dismissed a putative class action alleging that the Kroger Co. falsely labeled its margarine and graham crackers as “0g Trans Fat per serving” and “a Cholesterol Free Food,” when they actually contain various hydrogenated oils. Red v. The Kroger Co., No. 10-01025 (C.D. Cal.,…
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Court Allows Consumer Fraud Claims to Proceed Against Margarine Maker
A federal court in California has denied in part and granted in part the motion to dismiss filed by Smart Balance, Inc., which is defending a putative class action alleging that the company misled consumers by marketing its Nucoa margarine as cholesterol-free and healthy despite the artificial trans fat in the product. Yumul v. Smart Balance, Inc.,…