Ag in the News: Breyers Lawsuit Over Misleading Labeling
A class action lawsuit was filed by the McKinley law firm against Unilever, the company who owns the popular ice cream brand, Breyers. The lawsuit said that Breyers was not using plant based vanilla in their ice cream.
The Details
The lawsuit was filed in late June of this year and included all Breyer’s Natural Vanilla Ice Cream sold within the past eight years. The lawsuit will pay out almost nine million dollars to anyone who bought any size of Breyer’s Natural Vanilla Ice Cream between April 21, 2016 and August 14, 2024. Breyers has also been instructed to create a new formula for the ice cream with vanilla that is fully made from plants.
What Happens Next?
The court will make a final decision on the case on November 21, 2024. From then until February 19, 2025 consumers can file a claim to be paid back. If the court decides against Breyers, they must have a new formula within a year.
What That Means for Consumers
Consumers will be paid back a maximum of $1 per product purchased. In addition, they will have more to think about when purchasing. If packaging can not be trusted for ice cream, buyers may be skeptical of other products. Overall the case shows consumers that packaging may be wrong which is why certification stamps are important.
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And Another Thing 02 Labeling Lawsuit
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