LITIGATION: Added sugar, eco-claims, food colors, and heavy metals in the spotlight
It’s been an action-packed year in the courts for the food industry, with several lawsuits over heavy metals in baby food and titanium dioxide dismissed. However, Clif Bar ended up shelling out $10.5m to settle a lawsuit over ‘excessive’ amounts of sugar to products marketed as wholesome and nutritious; while Fairlife agreed to pay $21m to settle a case over animal abuse at a supplier Fair Oaks Farms.
On the ingredients side, Sweegen and PureCircle (Ingredion) have been arguing over stevia IP, while Kerry and Florida Foods Products have been battling over natural preservatives.
