Lactalis American Group, Inc. makes a white, crumbly feta cheese under its Président brand. But the complaint for this class action alleges that the cheese’s packaging and labeling gives consumers the impression that the cheese is made in Greece, or at least somewhere in Europe, and impression that the complaint claims is false.
Two classes have been defined for this action:
- The Florida Class is all persons in Florida who bought the product during the applicable statutes of limitations.
- The Consumer Fraud Multi-State Class is all persons in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Utah who bought the product during the applicable statutes of limitations.
The complaint alleges that feta cheese is associated with Greece. It quotes three dictionary definitions of feta, two of which call it a “Greek cheese” and the third of which says it is “made in Greece.”
Page 1 of the complaint shows an image of the product’s container. The top and front labels show the words “Europe’s Leading Cheese Expert” and “Feta,” written in a font that is stylized to resemble ancient Greek letters.
In addition to this, it shows a gold olive wreath, or a kotinos, the kind of wreath that was traditionally awarded winners of the ancient Greek Olympic games. They have been used more recently as well. The complaint alleges that they were awarded to winning athletes in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens and that a drawing of a kotinos was part of the official logo for that series of games.
The complaint alleges, “When the kotinos and stylized ancient Greek font are coupled with the statement, “Europe’s Leading Cheese Experts,” reasonable consumers will expect the Product was made in Greece by a European, and specifically, a Greek company.”
But page 4 of the complaint shows an image of the small-print label at the bottom of the container. The complaint quotes it as saying that Président has “over 80 years of French heritage,” but no connection with Greece. In fact, it discloses that the cheese is distributed by “Lactalis American Group, Inc., Buffalo NY 14220.”
Third-party websites also show the product was not made in Greece, the complaint alleges, but “Freshly Crafted in the USA” and “Made in the European Tradition.”
The complaint alleges that, as products become more commercialized, consumers look for products that are authentic. In fact, the complaint alleges that consumers will pay more for products that they see as authentic, particularly when the products are actually associated with a particular place, “such as Greece for feta cheese.”
Article Type: LawsuitTopic: Consumer
Most Recent Case Event
Président Feta Cheese Not Made in Greece Complaint
August 14, 2022
Lactalis American Group, Inc. makes a white, crumbly feta cheese under its Président brand. But the complaint for this class action alleges that the cheese’s packaging and labeling gives consumers the impression that the cheese is made in Greece, or at least somewhere in Europe, and impression that the complaint claims is false.
Président Feta Cheese Not Made in Greece ComplaintCase Event History
Président Feta Cheese Not Made in Greece Complaint
August 14, 2022
Lactalis American Group, Inc. makes a white, crumbly feta cheese under its Président brand. But the complaint for this class action alleges that the cheese’s packaging and labeling gives consumers the impression that the cheese is made in Greece, or at least somewhere in Europe, and impression that the complaint claims is false.
Président Feta Cheese Not Made in Greece Complaint