A comprehensive summary of today’s judicial, legislative, and regulatory developments in agriculture and food. Email important additions HERE.

                                                                                                                                               

Judicial: Food Labeling

In Zurliene v. Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, Inc., No. 3:21-CV-747-DWD, 2022 WL 816636 (S.D. Ill. Mar. 17, 2022) and Yu v. Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, Inc., No. 20 CIV. 8512 (ER), 2022 WL 799563 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 16, 2022), both plaintiffs brought cases alleging that various ice cream products distributed under the Häagen-Dazs brand were misleading because they contained oil in the chocolate coatings that the front label of the products stated was milk chocolate. Both plaintiffs failed to bring claims which could withstand motions to dismiss. Zurliene’s claim was preempted by the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (“FDCA”) and Yu’s failed to allege reasonable consumers would be misled by the products labeling. The courts dismissed both cases.

In LISA BARDSLEY, individually & on behalf of all others similarly situated, Plaintiff, v. NONNI’S FOODS LLC, Defendant., No. 20 CIV. 2979 (NSR), 2022 WL 814034 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 16, 2022), the plaintiff claimed that defendant’s “Limone Biscotti” product was misleading because the lemon flavor was not derived exclusively from lemons. The court found that under New York’s General Business Law (“GBL”) that the plaintiff sufficiently alleged that the product’s packaging was misleading and that it was possible that a reasonable consumer could be led to believe that the product’s lemon flavor was from lemon zest oil. The court also found that plaintiff’s claims were not preempted by the FDCA because the claims did not seek to impose additional or different requirements. Plaintiff only alleged that defendant failed to include the words “with other natural flavor” in compliance with the FDCA. The court dismissed all other claims brought by the plaintiff except for the consumer protection claim under GBL.

In KARI WARREN, individually & on behalf of all others similarly situated, Plaintiff, v. THE STOP & SHOP SUPERMARKET, LLC, Defendant., No. 20 CIV. 8718 (NSR), 2022 WL 815300 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 16, 2022), plaintiff brought a claim alleging that defendant’s “Graham Crackers – Honey” were misrepresented to consumers because it was sweetened primarily with sugar, not honey, and it was made from enriched flour and not graham flour. The court found that a reasonable consumer would not find the honey label to be misleading and differentiated it from the Campbell v. Whole Foods Market Group case because of the specifics of the label. However, the court found that plaintiff did adequately allege that a reasonable consumer may fine the word graham in the label misleading. The court also could not conclude whether the claims were preempted by federal law at the time of the motions. The court dismissed all of plaintiff’s claim except for the consumer protection claims under GBL involving the use of the word graham.

In VICKI ELDER, individually & on behalf of all others similarly situated, Plaintiff, v. BIMBO BAKERIES USA, INC., Defendant., No. 3:21-CV-637-DWD, 2022 WL 816631 (S.D. Ill. Mar. 17, 2022), plaintiff alleged that defendants “All Butter Loaf Cake” product was deceptively labelled. The court found that under the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act (“ICFA”) a reasonable consumer might be led to interpret the phrase “All Butter” as ambiguous and that the plaintiff plausibly alleged deception under the ICFA. The court held that the ICFA claim was not preempted by the FDCA because the complaint never invoked the FDA’s nutrient-content claim regulations. Plaintiff adequately alleged negligent misrepresentation, because of this, plaintiff’s fraud and unjust enrichment claims were adequately alleged as well. Plaintiff’s claim for injunctive relief and breach of warranty were dismissed.

In Patenaude v. Orgain, LLC, No. CV 21-40018-TSH, 2022 WL 798274 (D. Mass. Mar. 16, 2022), plaintiff argued that defendant’s vanilla flavored milk was deceptive and misleading because it contained no vanilla. The court held that the word vanilla without any qualifying terms does not lead a reasonable consumer to believe that the vanilla flavor comes exclusively or predominately from vanilla beans. Additionally, plaintiff provided no testing to back up his allegation that the product contained no vanilla. The court dismissed the case.

                                                                                                                                               

LEGISLATIVE: Includes Utah

UTAH

HB 423 creates an Agricultural Water Optimization Account and provides that the state’s Department of Agriculture and Food to use the account to issue grants to improve agricultural water optimization. Info here.

LEGISLATIVE: Includes Utah

UTAH

HB 142 addresses liability related to donated food and authorizes the state’s Department of Agriculture and Food to act if the department has reason to believe that the donated wild game meat is unwholesome. Info here.

LEGISLATIVE: Includes Utah

UTAH

HB 305 creates a Land Conservation Board to administer state land conservation programs. Info here.

LEGISLATIVE: Includes Utah

UTAH

SB 68 adjusts the amount of civil damages that a person may be liable for when the person commits criminal trespass on agricultural land or range land. Info here.

LEGISLATIVE: Includes Utah

UTAH

SB 133 creates the Food Security Council at Utah State University to coordinate state efforts in addressing food security and describes the duties and reporting requirements of the Council. Info here.

                                                                                                                                               

REGULATORY: AMS, EPA, FWS, FDA

AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE

Final rule amending the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances section of the organic regulations to implement recommendations submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture by the National Organic Standards Board. Info here.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Notice announcing that the EPA has received applications to register pesticide products containing active ingredients not included in any currently registered pesticide products. Info here.

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

Proposed rule announcing that FWS propose to reclassify the northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis), a bat species found in all or portions of 37 U.S. States, the District of Columbia, and much of Canada, as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. Info here.

FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION

Final rule announcing the FDA is providing notice of a stay of the effectiveness of certain provisions of a final rule published on June 11, 2021, which amended the definition and standard of identity for yogurt and revoked the definitions and standards of identity for lowfat yogurt and nonfat yogurt. This final rule is in response to objections timely filed in accordance with regulatory requirements. Info here.

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