(ReclaimingAmerica.net) – Yet another example of corporate deception coming to light—Breyers Ice Cream settles for nearly $9 million after allegedly misleading customers about their Natural Vanilla flavor.
This settlement resolves a class action lawsuit that exposes the deep frustrations of hardworking Americans misled by false advertising.
Breyers Ice Cream is involved in a class action settlement worth nearly $9 million. The lawsuit was filed in the New York State Supreme Court, Bronx County, and was announced on September 13. Plaintiffs alleged that Breyers’ Natural Vanilla ice cream falsely advertised its flavor as derived exclusively from the vanilla plant.
Consumers who bought the Natural Vanilla flavor between April 21, 2016, and August 14, 2024, may be eligible for compensation.
An $8.85 million settlement fund has been established for affected customers, and claims can be submitted through vanillaicecreamsettlement.com. Breyers is required to develop a new product formula ensuring all flavoring is naturally vanilla-derived within a year.
The lawsuit, against Conopco Inc. and Unilever United States Inc.—the advertiser and parent company of Breyers—alleged that Breyers’ Natural Vanilla ice cream gave consumers the impression the flavor was only from the vanilla plant. In reality, it contained non-vanilla plant vanilla flavors.
“Plaintiffs filed this lawsuit against the Defendants alleging the Defendants’ labeling of Breyers Natural Vanilla ice cream gave consumers the impression the ice cream contained vanilla flavor derived only from the vanilla plant and not from non-vanilla plant sources, and allege that it contained non-vanilla plant vanilla flavors,” the court explained in a release.
Consumers will receive $1 per carton of Breyers’ Natural Vanilla ice cream they purchased. Proof of purchase is required to submit claims with no limit on the number of claims for those with valid receipts. Customers without proof of purchase can submit up to eight claims, with a maximum payout of $8 per person.
The misleading labeling allegedly allowed Breyers to charge a premium price and caused economic losses to buyers. Breyers must fund a non-reversionary cash account for class member claims, notice/administration costs, attorneys’ fees, and class representative incentives.
“Breyers has agreed to an $8.85 million settlement over allegations that its ‘Natural Vanilla’ ice cream labeling misled consumers.”
Attorneys’ fees up to $3,175,000 and class representative payments of $5,000 each will be requested from the settlement fund.
The claim deadline is February 19, 2025, while the objection and opt-out deadlines are October 31, 2024. A final approval hearing is scheduled for November 21, 2024, where class members can argue for changes while preserving settlement benefits if approved.
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