
Hershey’s Organic Chocolate Bars
Allegations: Falsely marketing that products are made from ethically sourced and sustainable cocoa
July 2018: The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal.
April 2016: The named plaintiff filed a Notice of Appeal regarding the decision to dismiss the case.
March 2016: A federal judge dismissed this action finding that the complaint did not state a claim on which relief may be grant. The action was dismissed When a complaint is dismissed with prejudice, it cannot be refiled..
September 2015: A class-action lawsuit was filed against The Hershey Company for allegedly failing to disclose important information about its chocolate products (i.e., the alleged likelihood that the cocoa beans used to make its chocolate products is the product of child and slave labor). (Dana et al v. The Hershey Company and Hershey Chocolate & Confectionery Corporation, Case No. 15-cv-4453, N.D. Cal.)
For more information about other class-action lawsuits alleging a failure to disclose that products were the result of slave labor 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: 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
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.
Stocking stuffer alert: These “white chocolate” treats are allegedly missing key ingredients.
Pieces in cups are but fragments of those advertised.