Starbucks reached an agreement with EEOC to settle allegations of bias in promotions Starbucks recently announced that it brokered an agreement with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission earlier to settle allegations of bias against minority workers in its...

Federal Court Rules Hydroponic Produce can be Certified Organic On March 23rd the US District court for Northern California ruled the USDA can continue certifying hydroponic farming operations as organic under the National Organic Program. The Judge found the “USDA...

Skippy Peanut Butter Producers Beat JIF Producers Peanut Butter Label Lawsuit  An Ohio federal judge dismissed J.M. Smucker Co.’s (JIF peanut butter producer) request for a declaratory ruling that it would not be infringing on the similarly colored labeling used by...

Kellogg reaches $13 million settlement  On March 10th Kellogg reached a $13 million settlement over class action claims that the company had misleadingly advertised sugary cereals (including Raisin Bran, Frosted Mini-Wheats, and Smart Start) as healthy. A CA...

Disputed claims by Grocery Associations against Seattle for Hazard Pay Ordinance  In response to Seattle’s request that Washington federal court drop a lawsuit regarding the city’s pandemic pay hazard pay ordinance, two Grocery associations urged the court not to...

NY law requires supermarkets to donate excess to charity NY State passed a law (first introduced in March 2019) requiring supermarkets and grocery stores to donate excess food, which is determined safe but not sold due to labeling issues, aesthetic flaws, or surplus,...

Food Law Weekly News Roundup 2/22 Food companies contesting OSHA fines for Covid-19 violations Food companies including Smithfield, JBS USA, and Conagra Brands have yet to pay the fines filed by OSHA in response to Covid-19 safety violations. All three companies have...

Bankruptcy Judge ensures feed for 54,000 Cows Easterday Ranches, Inc. a cattle farm in Washington State, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after Tyson sued the ranch for over $200 million on claims of invoice fraud and cut payments to Easterday. This led to projections...