“Technically Correct” Labels Can Be Misleading
The Ninth Circuit has reversed the dismissal of a putative class action alleging that Gerber’s baby food labels misled consumers about the nutritional value of its baby foods despite being “technically correct.” Bruton v. Gerber Prods. Co., No. 1515174 (9th Cir., order entered April 19, 2017). The plaintiff argued that the presence of impermissible nutrient claims on Gerber labels combined with the absence of such claims on competitors’ products misled the public into believing Gerber products were of higher quality. The district court dismissed the action, finding no genuine dispute of material fact because the labels were accurate, but the Ninth Circuit found that “even technically correct labels can be misleading.” The appeals court also reversed the lower court’s dismissals of claims for unjust enrichment and class certification.
Issue 632
