Bumble Bee Products

July 2014: A federal judge granted the company’s motion to relate the two similar cases.

June 2014: Bumble Bee moved to relate this case to another similar case (Garrett v. Bumble Bee) after the plaintiffs refiled their claims in California state court.

March 2014: This case was voluntarily dismissed When a complaint is dismissed with prejudice, it cannot be refiled., the reasons for which have not been disclosed.

January 2014: A federal judge eliminated some false labeling and advertising claims made against Bumble Bee Foods in a class-action lawsuit filed against it in April 2012. In granting part of the company’s motion for summary judgment, the judge decided that two of the claims must go, while two claims can still be pursued by the plaintiffs. The two claims that were eliminated were:

1. Bumble Bee Foods inappropriately uses the term “rich in” when referring to the levels of vitamin A and Iron in its Sardines Mediterranean Style product;
2. Bumble Bee Foods makes unlawful “health claims” about some of its products.

The judge decided that the named plaintiff did not have standing (i.e., a proper basis) to sue on these claims because she did not allege or show any evidence that she even read the claims before purchasing the products.

The other two claims made against Bumble Bee Foods will move forward, however. Those claims both relate to the company’s use of the terms “excellent source” and “rich in” when referring to the levels of Omega-3 in its products.

(Ogden et al v. Bumble Bee Foods, LLC, Case No. 12-cv-01828, N. D. CA.).

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