Hershey’s Organic Chocolate Bars
Allegations: Falsely marketing that products are made from ethically sourced and sustainable cocoa
Hershey Chocolate Products
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.
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
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
Brookside Dark Chocolate Products
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.