Swiss chocolatier Lindt & Sprüngli is going through authorized scrutiny on account of a category motion lawsuit by the US-based Shopper Experiences, which accuses its darkish chocolate bars of containing harmful ranges of lead and cadmium.
A bar of Lindt chocolate is photographed in Lausanne, western Switzerland, on November 12, 2024. High Swiss chocolatier Lindt & Sprungli is disputing claims introduced by US customers in a category motion lawsuit regarding the ranges of heavy metals present in its chocolate bars.(Fabrice Coffrini/AFP)
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Shopper Experiences had examined 28 bars bought within the US and located one of many Lindt bars being amongst eight to have a excessive degree of cadmium, whereas one other Lindt bar was amongst 10 others with a excessive degree of lead, although neither had the very best ranges.
“Lindt & Sprungli disagrees with all the allegations made in the US lawsuit,” the report quoted the chocolatier as saying in its official assertion. “Our Lindt & Sprüngli quality and safety procedures ensure that all products comply with all applicable safety standards and declaration requirements and are safe to consume.”
Aside from this, two of Lindt’s bars, marketed beneath the US model Ghirardelli, had been amongst 5 categorised as “safer choices.”
Regardless of this, customers insisted within the lawsuit being filed in opposition to Lindt claiming they paid premium costs for Lindt since they believed they had been “purchasing quality and safe dark chocolate.”
They additional went on to accuse Lindt of violating US labelling guidelines.
Lindt’s attorneys claimed that the phrases “excellence” and “expertly crafted with the finest ingredients” on its packaging, had been “puffery” which may’t be taken authorized motion in opposition to.
This refers to an “exaggerated commendation especially for promotional purposes,” in line with a Merriam-Webster definition.
Nevertheless, the Jap District of New York district courtroom denied Lindt’s movement to get the lawsuit dismissed.
Lindt then again, careworn that the it was solely a “technical” authorized response earlier than the US courtroom “used to clarify that an advertising challenged by plaintiffs is not sufficiently objective to support the specific false advertising claim being made,” and never an admission of constructing inferior high quality merchandise.
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