Annie Chun’s Asian Cuisine

September 2016: A federal judge granted final approval of the settlement.

March 2016: A federal judge granted preliminarily approval of a revised settlement agreement.

The new proposed settlement terms are identical to the original settlement terms except that the cy pres award will be going to Consumers Union instead of the Mayo Clinic, Action for Healthy Kids, and National Farm to School Network. All other settlement terms are unchanged.

A final fairness hearing is scheduled for September 30, 2016.

December 2015: A federal judge denied preliminary approval of the proposed settlement.

October 2015: Plaintiffs moved for preliminary approval of a settlement of this class-action lawsuit. According to the proposed settlement terms, class members may receive a $1.50 refund for each product purchased. (Class members with proof of purchase may receive a refund for every product purchased while class members without proof of purchase may receive a refund for up to 10 products.) Any money remaining in the $1.5 million settlement fund after class members and expenses (e.g., administration expenses, incentive awards, and attorneys’ fees) are paid will be distributed to the Mayo Clinic, Action for Healthy Kids, and National Farm to School Network in the form of a cy pres award. In addition, the company agreed to stop marketing the products at issue as having “NO MSG ADDED” for a period of 3 years. After that, they are free to return to the original marketing.

October 2014: A class-action lawsuit was filed against CJ Foods for allegedly. misleadingly labeling Annie Chun’s Soup Bowls, Asian Noodle Bowls, and Ramen House prepackaged food products as containing no MSG when these products actually contain several ingredients that have MSG. (Peterson et al v. CJ America, Inc. d/b/a CJ Foods Inc., Case No. 14-cv-2570, S. D. CA.).