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 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 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
July 2020: A federal judge dismissed this case for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. The judge further concluded that allowing plaintiffs to amend their complaint would be futile because “reasonable…
White Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
October 2020: A federal judge dismissed the complaint for failure to state a claim finding that reasonable consumers would not be misled into believing that the product contains white chocolate.…
ONE Protein Bars
In January 2019, a class-action lawsuit was filed against One Brands and The Hershey Company alleging that its ONE protein bars – including the Birthday Cake flavor – contain more…
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…
Boxes of Reese’s Pieces and Whoppers Candy
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…
Chocolate Products from The Hershey Company
In February 2018, a class-action lawsuit was filed against The Hershey Company for allegedly failing to disclose that the cocoa beans used in chocolate products are the result of child…
Bags of Hershey’s Kisses
April 2017: This action was voluntarily dismissed, the reasons for which have not been disclosed. The named plaintiff’s claims were dismissed When a complaint is dismissed with prejudice, it cannot…
Hershey Products
September 2015: The parties agreed to voluntarily dismiss the appeal. The reasons for the dismissal have not been disclosed. April 2015: Plaintiffs filed a Notice of Appeal regarding the November…
Ice Breakers® Ice Cubes Sugar-free Gum
December 2015: This action was dismissed When a complaint is dismissed with prejudice, it cannot be refiled.. The reasons for the dismissal have not been disclosed. June 2015: A class-action…
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Be on the lookout for everything from walking ads to disappearing candy.
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