Legal
Featured Legal Content
Ben & Jerry’s Sues Unilever For Blocking Public Stance on Gaza
Tensions are rising between Ben & Jerry’s and its parent company, Unilever. The mission-driven ice cream maker filed a breach-of-contract lawsuit claiming it has repeatedly blocked the brand’s attempts to take a public stance on the war in Gaza.
CPG Week: Deceptive Labeling & Class Action Lawsuits
On CPG Week, the podcast team talks about a number of lawsuits across food and beverage including another chapter in the PB&J wars and a couple deceptive labeling complaints for growing brands.
CA Closes The Door On Hemp-Derived THC Products
Citing concerns over public health, California’s Governor Gavin Newsom proposed on Friday an emergency regulation that will heavily restrict “intoxicating hemp products.”
Additional Content
Beyond Meat: Shareholder Lawsuit Alleges Leadership Overstated Success of QSR Partnerships
Beyond Meat was issued a class action lawsuit by institutional shareholders alleging that the plant-based meat company’s executives knowingly misled its investors about the strength of the company’s manufacturing and foodservice partnerships while, in the process, profiting on the inflated share price.
News Roundup: Congress Seeks To Increase Access to Frozen Produce, Motif FoodWorks Launching Foodservice Portfolio
A bipartisan bill in Congress will offer SNAP recipients access to frozen produce, Motif FoodWorks is launching a foodservice portfolio of its plant-based meat products and NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ private equity firm RX3 Growth Partners announces a $150M fund II.
Broth Beef: USDA, FDA Trying To Ban FODMAP Terms, Says Gourmend
Gourmend Foods is suing the USDA and FDA over the use of proven, low-FODMAP labeling claims on beef bone broth packages saying “the government does not get to decide which facts consumers are allowed to learn.”
UNFI Faces Shareholder Class Action Over Allegedly Misleading Cost Savings Program
UNFI is facing legal action from shareholders after allegedly providing false and misleading financial information following the roll out of its Value Path cost savings initiative, launched in the wake of pandemic-induced supply chain volatility.
Legal: Heavy Metals Baby Food Case Moves to FDA
The fate of a putative consolidation accusing baby food maker Beech-Nut Nutrition Co. of violating consumer protection laws by including toxic amounts of heavy metals in its products is now in the hands of the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) after a New York federal judge on Thursday ruled the court does not have jurisdiction over the case.
News Roundup: Albertsons Launches Emerging Brand Competition; Cereal Maker Sues Rock Band
In this week’s roundup: Albertsons launches emerging brand competition; Post Holdings sues LA-based rock band OK Go; Whole Foods aims to increase store expansions three-fold; Campbell’s consolidates snack offices and SPAM gets stylish.
Albertsons: WA Supreme Court Clears Way For $4B Dividend
The Washington State Supreme Court has cleared the way for Albertsons to pay out a $4 billion shareholder dividend after it sided with a lower court trial judge in declining the state attorney general’s request to appeal an injunction on Tuesday.
Study Sparks Debate Over Heavy Metals in Dark Chocolate
Both organic and conventional chocolate makers came under fire when a Consumer Reports study found potentially hazardous levels of lead and cadmium in 28 dark chocolate products. The issue became more complex when Trader Joe’s and Hershey’s, were served with class action lawsuits.
News Roundup: Pickle Wars, Low-Carbon Beef
Grillo’s is taking Wahlburgers to court over pickles, a data company unveils its cattle carbon credits at the CES Convention, Jenny Craig launches a ready-made, meal delivery platform and precision fermentation company Liberation Labs closes seed funding round.
Albertsons: D.C. Circuit Refuses To Pause Special Dividend
A Washington, D.C. Circuit court panel sided with Albertsons on Tuesday refusing to impose an emergency pause on the grocery chain’s planned $4 billion shareholder dividend filed in the court a month and a half ago.