LOS ANGELES – A consumer has filed a class-action lawsuit against a food manufacturing company over allegations a seal displaying a lack of GMO ingredients is deceptive.
Jennifer Latiff, on behalf of herself and all others similarly situated, filed a complaint on July 27 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against Nestle USA Inc. over alleged violation of the Unfair Competition Law, False Advertising Law and Consumers Legal Remedies Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff purchased one or more of defendant Nestle's products labeled with the No GMO Ingredients seal. She alleges the seal "appears to be that of an independent third party" when it is the defendant's own label. She alleges the label causes confusion and deceives consumers.
The plaintiff holds Nestle USA Inc. responsible because the defendant allegedly designed the false, misleading and deceptive label with the intent to sell, distribute and increase the consumption of its products with the label.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks declaratory and injunctive relief, compensatory and punitive damages, interest, attorneys' fees, costs of suit and for such further relief as the court may deem just and proper. She is represented by Michael R. Reese and George V. Granade of Reese LLP in New York and Daniel L. Warshaw and Bobby Pouya of Pearson, Simon & Warshaw in Sherman Oaks.
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California case number 2:18-cv-06503-ODW-JPR