SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline) - A California woman is suing Chipotle, alleging it deceives consumers regarding the ingredients in its food.
Allison Pappas of San Diego, individually and for all others similarly situated, filed a class action lawsuit March 10 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California against Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc., alleging violations of California's Consumer Legal Remedies Act, False Advertising Law and Unfair Competition Law.
In 2015, the suit states, Chipotle launched a publicity campaign touting itself as the "first national company" in the food industry to serve a menu that contained no genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The lawsuit alleges, however, that Chipotle items have never been free of GMOs.
The complaint says the company serves meat products from animals that feed on GMOs like corn and soy, its tacos and burritos are often served with sour cream and cheese from dairy farms that feed GMOs to animals, and it sells Coca-Cola and other soft drinks that are made with corn syrup, a GMO.
Pappas and others in the class seek monetary and actual damages, restitution, declaratory relief, interest, attorney fees and other costs of the suit. They are represented by attorney Stephen B. Morris of the Law Offices of Stephen B. Morris in San Diego.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California Case number 3:16-CV-00612-MMA-JLB