Dive Brief:
- Abbott Laboratories is the target of a lawsuit filed by three consumers over whether Abbott's private-label Similac Advance Organic Infant Formulas actually contain all organic ingredients.
- According to the lawsuit, 26 of the 49 ingredients in these formulas are not allowed in organic foods, such as irradiated substances and synthetic compounds.
- An Abbott spokesperson reiterated to just-food that its products were USDA certified as organic and are in compliance for use in organic infant formulas.
Dive Insight:
The lawsuit stated, "By deceiving consumers about the nature, quality, and/or ingredients of the 'organic' infant formula as detailed herein, Abbott was able to command a premium price for the organic infant formula. Abbott was also motivated to mislead consumers to take away market share from competing products, thereby increasing its own sales and profits."
This type of marketing and labeling lawsuit is nothing new to the food industry, particularly in the past few years. Of major interest for consumer and class action lawsuits is the labeling of foods as "healthy," "organic," and especially "natural" by food companies when the plaintiffs allege the ingredient list and nutrition facts say otherwise.