Press Releases
Organic Consumers Association (OCA) and Animal Equality (AE), jointly with Champion Petfoods USA Inc. (CPF), today announced that they have resolved two consumer protection actions filed by AE and OCA on July 24, 2020 and August 10, 2020, respectively, against CPF in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
These actions concerned CPF’s marketing and labeling as to some of its pet food ingredients with respect to claims pertaining to “wild-caught” trout and “free-run” poultry.
AE’s action alleged that CPF, which started making pet food in Alberta, Canada and later expanded into the United States in 2016, identified farm-raised trout as “wild-caught” in some of its marketing materials. This was an inadvertent oversight that has since been corrected.
The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) today sued The Kraft Heinz Company (“Kraft”) for misleading consumers by marketing and advertising cheese products containing milk from cows administered recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) — also known as recombinant bovine growth hormone (rbGH) — as “natural.”
The action was filed on behalf of OCA by Richman Law & Policy in D.C. Superior Court under the D.C. Consumer Protection Procedures Act.
“The Organic Consumers Association has for years educated consumers about the use of rbGH, an artificial, genetically engineered growth hormone used in milk production, and its harmful impact on human health and the health of dairy cows,” said OCA International Director, Ronnie Cummins.
The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) today announced that the District of Columbia Superior Court rejected Smithfield’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit OCA brought against the pork producer in May 2020 under the District of Columbia Consumer Protection Procedures Act (CPPA).
“We are pleased that the court agrees that Smithfield, a producer of industrial factory farm pork, should be held accountable for claims the company makes about the safety of its products and production practices,” said OCA International Director Ronnie Cummins.
In its ruling, the court rejected Smithfield’s argument that no reasonable consumer would rely on the company’s claims that its products are the “safest” possible, that Smithfield is “Leading the industry on food safety.” and that its COVID-19 response “complement[s] the extensive safety measures” used by the company. The court held that such claims plausibly lead reasonable consumers to believe the products are “produced without the use of potentially carcinogenic drugs, have lower-than-average rates of Salmonella contamination, and are not contaminated with particularly dangerous disease strains.”
Six nonprofits today filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission asking the FTC to investigate Cargill, Inc., and enjoin the company from making false and misleading claims about its turkey products sold under the Shady Brook Farms and Honeysuckle White brands.
In the complaint, the groups — Venceremos, Mighty Earth, Animal Equality, Organic Consumers Association, Family Farm Action Alliance and Socially Responsible Agricultural Project — said Cargill uses its “independent family farmers” labeling and marketing claims to falsely imply that the turkey brands have far-reaching benefits for workers, animals and the environment when in fact the turkeys used in the two brands come from large, corporate-controlled factory farms.
“Far from the bucolic family farms portrayed by Cargill’s marketing, Cargill’s actual production methods exploit contract farmers and slaughterhouse workers, systematically abuse animals and cause grave harms to the environment,” the complaint reads.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - August 19, 2020 - Organic Consumers Association (OCA) sued D’Artagnan, the largest distributor of foie gras in the U.S., for deceptive marketing and advertising of foie gras, sold under the D’Artagnan brand.
The action was filed by Richman Law Group on behalf of OCA, in D.C. Superior Court under the D.C. Consumer Protection Procedures Act.
“Increasingly, consumers are aligning their food purchases with their personal values,” said Ronnie Cummins, OCA’s international director. “That’s especially true when it comes to the humane treatment of animals.
“Surveys consistently show that consumers place a high value on animal welfare and are willing to pay more for brands that adhere to high animal welfare standards,” Cummins said. “Consumers must be protected from false and misleading advertising and marketing claims, and corporations like D’Artagnan must be held accountable for the claims they make.”
Organic Consumers Association (OCA) filed suit against Champion Petfoods USA and Champion Petfoods LP for deceptive marketing and advertising of pet foods marketed under the Orijen and Acana brand names.
The action was filed by Richman Law Group on behalf of OCA, in D.C. Superior Court under the D.C. Consumer Protection Procedures Act.
“Animal welfare concerns rank high with consumers and contribute significantly to their decisions when it comes to buying meat and poultry products,” said OCA International Director, Ronnie Cummins. “Whether that animal is destined for human consumption, or for pet food, the decision-making process is the same.
Organic Consumers Association (OCA) filed suit against Mowi USA and Mowi Ducktrap for deceptive marketing and advertising of smoked Atlantic salmon products sold under the Ducktrap River of Maine brand.
The action was filed by Richman Law Group on behalf of OCA, in D.C. Superior Court under the D.C. Consumer Protection Procedures Act.
“Most consumers choosing a smoked Atlantic salmon product with the words ‘All Natural’ on the package would be surprised to learn that that salmon was raised in a crowded pen where it was treated with artificial chemicals, including pesticides and medically important antibiotics,” said OCA International Director, Ronnie Cummins.
The Organic Consumers Association (OCA), Forward Latino, Socially Responsible Agricultural Project (SRAP), Dr. Mercola and U.S. Farmers & Ranchers for a Green New Deal, today launched the “Boycott Big Meat” national consumer education and lobbying campaign.
The campaign is endorsed by 50+ groups, including Cedar Rapids, Iowa Sunrise Hub and Iowa Alliance for Responsible Agriculture.
Join the virtual press conference July 14, 7 p.m. CDT.
“Consumers must lead the just transition to a decentralized system of organic regenerative pasture-raised/grass-fed meat production, run by a diverse network of local/regional independent farmers, ranchers, processors and retailers who are committed to fair pay and safe working conditions, and environmental and climate justice,” said Ronnie Cummins, OCA’s international director.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 2, 2020 - In a complaint filed with the Federal Trade Commission, Organic Consumers Association, Animal Equality and Food & Water Watch accused Tyson Foods of misleading consumers by falsely claiming that Tyson chicken products are produced in a natural, environmentally responsible and humane way.
The complaint, filed on behalf of the groups by Richman Law Group, asks that the FTC investigate and take action to enjoin Tyson from making false and misleading product claims.
“Surveys consistently show that consumers seek meat products free of unnatural substances and produced sustainably and humanely,” said OCA’s international director, Ronnie Cummins. “We look to the FTC for oversight and enforcement to protect consumers against deceptive product claims.”
The Organic Consumers Association today announced that it has sued Smithfield Foods for falsely advertising Smithfield pork products as the “safest” U.S. pork products.
The complaint was filed on behalf of OCA by Richman Law Group in D.C. Superior Court, under the D.C. Consumer Protection Procedures Act.
“Consumers are unlikely to know that the USDA has notified Smithfield slaughter plants on multiple occasions that their pork was more likely to be contaminated with salmonella than similar products in slaughter plants of the same size,” said Ronnie Cummins, OCA co-founder and director.
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