Summary:
Stoel Rives attorneys Melissa Jones and Tom Woods discussed in a Law360 article current trends in California class action litigation involving "all natural" claims related to food product labeling. False and deceptive advertising is prohibited under California's unfair competition and false advertising laws. Remedies for violations include injunctive relief and the potential for broad restitution in addition to other potential recoveries.
Jones and Woods describe how recent U.S. Federal Drug Administration ("FDA") enforcement activity over "all natural" labeling claims may be used as further ammunition to the plaintiff's bar. They conclude that California companies should review their products and labeling for synthetic preservatives or artificial ingredients included in or added to the food, so that product labeling is accurate and conforms to the FDA's guidelines.
Read the full Law360 article
"Labels Matter in Calif. 'All Natural' Claims" was published by Law360, January 24, 2012.