The USDA’s National Organic Program (“NOP”) recently issued draft guidance (here, here, and here) that organic and nonorganic food manufacturers alike should be aware of. In addressing what is required to certify a product as “organic,” the NOP has offered its own definition of “natural” (or “nonsynthetic”), which is “a substance that is derived from… Read More
Category Archives: Organic
Subscribe to Organic RSS FeedGeneral Mills Points to Ingredient List in Defense of “100% Natural” Claims
Posted in False Advertising Claims, Organic, StandingGeneral Mills recently filed a motion to dismiss a putative class action accusing the company of falsely advertising its popular Nature Valley granola products as “100% natural.” Chin et al. v. General Mills, Inc., Case No. 12-cv-2150-MJD-TML (D. Minn.). The crux of plaintiffs’ claims is that the granola is not “100% natural” because it contains… Read More
Worth the Wait? FTC Releases Final Revised “Green Guides”
Posted in OrganicThe U.S. Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) has released final revisions to its Environmental Marketing Guides, commonly known as the “Green Guides.” The Green Guides, the FTC’s guidance document on enforcement of Section 5 of the FTC Act and similar state laws that prohibit deceptive or misleading marketing acts or practices, illustrate how the FTC monitors… Read More