Making a claim about a product is at the center of marketing, and for food sector businesses, this couldnt be more true. Consumers are constantly on the lookout for healthier products, more natural foods and other specialized products, and without proper advertising claims, food companies would miss out on potential customers every day. However, this doesnt mean food claims shzinc gluconate to zincould be issued without thought; an untrue or misleading claim could lead to fines and class-action lawsuits that can potentially cost businesses millions.
ICYMI: Just last Friday, we published a blog entitled Class Action Lawsuits Call Food Claims into Question. It seems great minds think alike, as over the weekend, the Los Angeles Times publishedcitracal maximum strength an excellent piece entitled Too good to be true? More food companies settling over questionable advertising claims. The piece chronicles the trials and tribulations of Neurobrands LLC, Nutella, Naked Juice and Vitaminwater as they dealt with various court cases centered around health-centric claims. The piece also showcases how these lawsuits are becoming big business: UCLA, UC Berkeley and Harvard University have all added food law departments or classes to deal with the rush of food safety issues. It also highlights Califnow zinc 50 mgornia as the epicenter of the outbreak of food-related claims litigation:
But others say the trend is another example of frivolous lawsuits and liberal Califmagnesium lactate usesornia laws. So many food-related suits have been filed in the Northern District of California — where jurors are assumed to be liberal and health-conscious — that it’s known as The Food Court.’
Over the weekend, another prominent brand was implicated in a potential class-action lawsuit: PepsiCos Quaker Oats brand is under fire from New York and California consumers. The product is advertised as 100% natural but consumers are arguing that the presence of glyphosate (the active ingredient in weedkiller Roundup) negates the claim. For what its worcalcium v calcium citrateth, the level of glyphosate is well below levels established by federal regulators, but the consumers may have a point to argue in court.
While it remains to be seen what will happen with Quaker Oats, food industry executives should be prepared for anything, and that includes potential blow-back from consumer advocacy groups about marketing claims. To be better prepared for future claims, read ourPrimer about the Ongoing Epidemic of Class Action Lawsuits Challenging Food Claims.