
Hershey’s Organic Chocolate Bars
Allegations: Falsely marketing that products are made from ethically sourced and sustainable cocoa
February 2018: A federal judge granted The Hershey Company’s motion for summary judgment finding that the named plaintiff failed to show that the allegedly deceptive practice caused him injury because he knew how much empty space was in each box of candy and continued to purchase them.
2016: A false advertising class-action lawsuit was filed against The Hershey Company. The complaint, which was originally filed in 2016 and amended in 2017, alleges that the company deceptively uses slack-filled packaging for Reese’s Pieces and Whoppers candy. According to the complaint, boxes of Reese’s Pieces are 29% empty space and boxes of Whoppers are 41% empty space. (Bratton et al v. The Hershey Company, Case No. 16-cv-4322, W.D. Mo.)
For more information about other class-action lawsuits regarding slack-filled packaging and TINA.org’s coverage of the issue, click here.
Allegations: Falsely marketing that products are made from ethically sourced and sustainable cocoa
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing products as safe and sustainable
Allegations: Failing to disclose that products contain harmful chemicals
Allegations: Failing to disclose that products contain a bacterium that could lead to serious health consequences
Allegations: Failing to disclose that products contain unsafe levels of lead
Allegations: Failing to disclose important information about chocolate products
Allegations: Misleadingly representing that companies would “phase out” and stop using forced child labor when they continue to use child labor to harvest cocoa
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing the topping as fudge when the product is missing ingredients essential to fudge and contains ingredients not found in fudge
Several of this year’s Super Bowl advertisers have run into legal trouble for alleged deceptive marketing.
TINA.org has tracked more than 150 lawsuits alleging greenwashing.
Consumer Reports study sparks class-action lawsuits.
Lawsuits allege brownie brands and others lack the essential dairy ingredients to call their products fudge.
See how you stack up.