Pedigree Complete Nutrition Roasted Chicken and Vegetable Dog Kibble
Allegations: Falsely marketing that products provide a “100% Complete & Balanced” diet for dogs
Mars Chocolate Products
June 2018: The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the district court’s dismissal of this case. (Case No. 16-15444, 9th Cir.)
March 2016: The named plaintiff filed a Notice of Appeal regarding the order dismissing the complaint.
February 2016: A federal judge dismissed the complaint finding that the company was not required to disclose on labels that cocoa beans used in chocolate products may have been harvested by child or forced labor.
September 2015: A class-action lawsuit was filed against Mars, Inc. alleging that the company does not disclose important information about its chocolate products (i.e., the alleged likelihood that the cocoa beans used to make its chocolate products are the product of child and slave labor). (Hodsdon et al v. Mars, Inc. and Mars Chocolate North America LLC, Case No. 15-cv-4450, 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
Nutro Pet Foods
Allegations: False natural claims
Combos Cheddar Cheese Stuffed Snacks
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing that the filling in products is made with real cheddar cheese
Starbursts
Allegations: Deceptively using slack-filled packaging that is approximately 55% empty space
Dove Promises Deeper Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao
Allegations: Failing to disclose that products contain dangerous levels of heavy metals
Chocolate in Starbucks, Mars, and The Quaker Oats Company Products
Allegations: Misleadingly representing that cocoa has been harvested following ethical and environmentally responsible standards
Combos Cheddar Cheese Stuffed Snacks
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing that the filling in snacks is “made with real cheese”
Skittles
Allegations: Failing to adequately disclose candies contain a toxin that increases the risk of adverse health effects
Calories in Starburst Gummies Sours
Allegations: Deceptively representing the number of calories in candies
Nutro Limited Ingredient Dog Foods
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing that dog foods do not contain wheat, soy, or chicken when they contain significant amounts of the ingredients
Altoids Cinnamon Mints
Allegations: Falsely marketing products as containing cinnamon
Silky Smooth Dove Bars
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing that ice cream bars are covered in milk chocolate when the coating contains ingredients not contained in real chocolate
Dove Chocolate-Covered Mixed Berries
Allegations: Falsely marketing products as “made with real fruit” when the fruit ingredients contain sugar and other non-fruit components
Nutro Limited Ingredient Diets Dog Foods
Dove Ice Cream Bars
M&M’s Reduced Fat Vanilla Ice Cream Products
IAMS Dog Foods
Uncle Ben’s Ready Rice
Snickers Protein Bars
Chocolate Products from Mars
M&M’s Candies, Dove Candy Bars, Snickers Bars, and More
Iams Cat Food
Uncle Ben’s Rice Products
Mars Flavored Ice Cream Products
Nutro Dog Food Products
Mars Chocolate Candy Products
M&M’s® Mini Products
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