Lawsuit Investigation: Nestlé's No-GMO Label
Last Updated on July 11, 2017
Investigation Complete
Attorneys working with ClassAction.org have finished their investigation into this matter.
Check back for any potential updates and take a look at our open investigations here. The information on this page is for reference only.
At A Glance
- This Alert Affects:
- Anyone who purchased certain Nestlé products marked with a "No GMO Ingredients" label.
- What's Going On?
- It has been alleged that Nestlé is labeling certain products with a misleading, unverified "No GMO Ingredients" label.
- What Products Are Affected?
- Coffee-Mate Natural Bliss Cremer, Lean Cuisine Marketplace's Cheese Tortellini, Dryer's/Edy's Slow-Churned Vanilla Bean Ice Cream and Buitoni's Four-Cheese Ravioli, among others.
- How Could a Class Action Lawsuit Help?
- If filed and successful, consumers may be able to get refunds for the products they purchased.
Attorneys working with ClassAction.org would like to hear from anyone who bought a product made by Nestlé that was marked with the company’s “No GMO Ingredients” label.
These products may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Coffee-Mate Natural Bliss Creamer
- Buitoni’s Four-Cheese Ravioli
- Lean Cuisine Marketplace’s Cheese Tortellini
- Dreyer’s/Edy’s Slow-Churned Ice Cream
If you purchased a Nestlé product with a “No GMO Ingredients” label, attorneys working with ClassAction.org would like to hear from you. They have reason to believe the products were falsely labeled and marketed and are speaking with consumers to help determine whether a class action lawsuit can be filed. To get in touch and learn more, simply fill out the form on this page.
What’s Going On?
It is believed that some Nestlé food products may have been falsely labeled with a “No GMO Ingredients” label.
The label on these products is reportedly not generated by any third-party certification agency. It is believed that Nestlé made up this label and even placed the small “TM” next to it even though no records show that the label is trademarked.
Unfortunately, the label is strikingly similar to the official label for the Non-GMO Verified project, which is known as the standard for non-GMO food in the United States. In fact, the main issue in this investigation is that Nestlé is believed to be using a made-up label that is mimicking one that applies to products verified with a completely different set of standards.
Here are the logos side by side, with Nestlé’s logo first:
As a result, it is suspected that many consumers believe the Nestlé products are in fact verified using the same standards set by the Non-GMO Verified Project.
The Issue with Dairy “Non-GMO” Products
The investigation into a possible class action lawsuit against Nestlé specifically concerns some of the company’s dairy products.
The Non-GMO Verified Project maintains that its own label cannot be applied to products derived from animals that have been given GMO feed. Therefore, if someone is purchasing a dairy product that is labeled “no GMOs,” the only possible meaning would be that the cow was not fed GMO feed.
Attorneys believe that the “no GMO ingredients” label on Nestlé’s dairy products is misleading because it should either:
Certify that the cow is not a GMO cow – which is meaningless because no GMO livestock are used in the production of food
Certify that the dairy cows’ feed is non-GMO
It is believed Nestlé’s standards for non-GMO actually allow for the presence of GMOs in its products, thereby making the label meaningless.
How Can a Class Action Lawsuit Help?
If a lawsuit is filed and is successful, consumers who purchased products labeled as “non-GMO” may be able to get their money back. Furthermore, a court could order Nestlé to change its labeling practices and serve as warning for other food manufacturers.
If you purchased a Nestlé product that was labeled with a “No GMO Ingredients” label, you may have an opportunity to get your money back.
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