Target
TINA.org investigated Target’s website – www.target.com – and found that false and deceptive Made in the USA labeling issues were widespread on its site, including product specifications that falsely stated…
100% Grated Parmesan Cheese Claims
October 2022: This action was voluntarily dismissed When a complaint is dismissed with prejudice, it cannot be refiled..
December 2020: The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the dismissal finding that average consumers are not likely to understand that the phrase 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese means that the product is a blend of cheese and other substances.
September 2019: Plaintiffs filed a Notice of Appeal regarding several court orders, including the August 2017 and November 2018 dismissals.
November 2018: A federal judge dismissed false advertising claims concluding that reasonable consumers would not be misled.
October 2017: Five amended complaints were filed similarly alleging that 100% grated cheese products are not 100% cheese. Click on the links below to see each complaint.
- Albertsons and SuperValu Complaint
- Kraft Heinz Complaint
- Publix Super Markets Complaint
- Target and ICCO-Cheese Company Complaint
- Walmart and ICCO-Cheese Company Complaint
August 2017: A federal judge dismissed the five consolidated class-action complaints in this multidistrict litigation finding that the marketing is not deceptive because the ingredient list on the label discloses that the products contain non-cheese ingredients. The judge also concluded that the “100% Grated Parmesan Cheese” description is ambiguous because there are at least three reasonable interpretations of the phrase: (1) the product is 100% cheese, (2) 100% of the cheese in the product is parmesan, and (3) the parmesan cheese is 100% grated. The dismissal was When a complaint is dismissed without prejudice, an amended version of the complaint can be refiled..
2016: Multiple class-action lawsuits alleging that Walmart, Target, Supervalu, The Kraft Heinz Company, Albertsons, ICCO-Cheese Company, and Publix Super Markets misleadingly market parmesan cheese products as “100%” grated parmesan cheese when, according to the complaints, the products contain ingredients other than cheese were transferred to a multidistrict litigation. (In Re: 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese Marketing and Sales Practices Litigation, Case No. 16-cv-5802, N.D. Ill.; MDL No. 2705)
Legal Action
Walmart
TINA.org investigations into Walmart have revealed that the retail giant repeatedly engaged in false and deceptive Made in USA marketing on its website, and used undisclosed stealth marketing directed at…
Class-Action Tracker
Signature Select Cans of Sliced Peaches and Mandarin Orange Fruit Cups
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing that products contain 100% fruit juice
Lucerne Smoked Gouda Cheese Slices
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing products as “smoked”
Wine at Safeway Grocery Stores
Allegations: Falsely advertising discounts off of artificially inflated reference prices and as available for a limited time
Wine at Safeway and Albertsons
Allegations: Falsely advertising discounts off of artificially inflated reference prices
Various Dry Shampoos
Allegations: Failing to disclose products contain the carcinogen benzene
Signature Select Fruit & Grain Cereal Bars
Allegations: Falsely marketing products as “Naturally Flavored”
“Product of USA” Beef
Allegations: Falsely advertising beef products from imported cattle as “Product of the U.S.”
Several Brands of Cold and Flu Medicines
Allegations: Falsely marketing that phenylephrine products treat congestion and other cold and flu symptoms
Promotions for “Free” Products at Safeway and Albertson’s Grocery Stores
Allegations: Misleading promotions for “free” products
Sudafed, CVS, Advil, Up & Up, Signature Care, Equate, and Tylenol Cold and Flu Medicines
Allegations: Falsely marketing that medicines treat nasal congestion
Signature Care Lidocaine Patches
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing lidocaine patches
Safeway’s Promotions for Free Products
Allegations: Marketing that consumers who purchase items during promotions get “free” products when the store increases the price of the first product during promotions
Disposable Plates and Bowls from Albertsons, Safeway and Lucerne Foods
Allegations: Falsely marketing products as compostable
Signature Select Macaroni & Cheese
Allegations: Deceptively using slack-filled boxes
Signature Care Rapid Release Gelcaps
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing products as “Rapid Release”
Safeway’s Online Grocery Delivery Services
Allegations: Charging customers higher prices than those represented at the time of checkout
Signature Care Non-Drowsy Daytime Severe Cold & Flu Relief
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing medicines as “non-drowsy” when an ingredient in them causes drowsiness
Several Brands of Baby Foods
Allegations: Failing to disclose baby foods contain toxic heavy metals
Safeway’s Pricing
Safeway Olive Oils
Essential Everyday 100% Grated Cheese
M&M’s Candies, Dove Candy Bars, Snickers Bars, and More
Safeway Tuna
Open Nature 100% Natural Waffles
Safeway Select Coffee Packets
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