Hershey’s Organic Chocolate Bars
Allegations: Falsely marketing that products are made from ethically sourced and sustainable cocoa
Brookside Dark Chocolate Products
November 2019: A federal judge granted summary judgment in favor of Hershey concluding that two of the named plaintiffs did not claim that they relied on the alleged misleading representations in making their purchasing decisions, and the third named plaintiff’s injury was not caused by the alleged misleading representations.
April 2019: Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint similarly alleging that the company misleadingly advertises that Brookside Dark Chocolate products contain “No Artificial Flavors” when, according to the complaint, the products contain an artificial flavoring ingredient (d-l malic acid).
October 2018: A class-action lawsuit was filed against The Hershey Company for allegedly falsely advertising that Brookside Dark Chocolate products are flavored only with natural ingredients when, according to the complaint, the products contain the artificial flavor malic acid. (Clark et al v. The Hershey Company, Case No. 18-cv-6113, N. D. CA.)
For more information about other class-action lawsuits filed The Hershey Company and TINA.org’s coverage of the company, click here.
Class-Action Tracker
Hershey’s Products
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing products as safe and sustainable
Hershey’s and Lily’s Chocolates
Allegations: Failing to disclose that products contain harmful chemicals
Totally Cool Ice Creams
Allegations: Failing to disclose that products contain a bacterium that could lead to serious health consequences
Lily’s Extra Dark Chocolate Bars
Allegations: Failing to disclose that products contain unsafe levels of lead
Hershey Chocolate Products
Allegations: Failing to disclose important information about chocolate products
Chocolate from Mars, Hershey’s, Nestle, and Others
Allegations: Misleadingly representing that companies would “phase out” and stop using forced child labor when they continue to use child labor to harvest cocoa
Hershey’s Hot Fudge Topping
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing the topping as fudge when the product is missing ingredients essential to fudge and contains ingredients not found in fudge
White Kit Kat Bars
White Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
ONE Protein Bars
Boxes of Reese’s Pieces and Whoppers Candy
Chocolate Products from The Hershey Company
Bags of Hershey’s Kisses
Hershey Products
Ice Breakers® Ice Cubes Sugar-free Gum
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TINA.org has tracked more than 150 lawsuits alleging greenwashing.
CATrends: Toxic Heavy Metals in Dark Chocolate
Consumer Reports study sparks class-action lawsuits.
CATrends: What the Fudge?
Lawsuits allege brownie brands and others lack the essential dairy ingredients to call their products fudge.
CATrends: Fake White Chocolate
Stocking stuffer alert: These “white chocolate” treats are allegedly missing key ingredients.
Reese’s Pieces Peanut Butter Cups
Pieces in cups are but fragments of those advertised.