BUFFALO, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - Nabisco's Lorna Doone shortbread cookies trick snackers into thinking they are getting real butter and are more Scottish than they actually are, a class action lawsuit complains.
New York lawyer Spencer Sheehan sued Mondelez Global on May 11 in New York federal court because the packaging features a tartan pattern, the cookies are square and the name Lorna Doone comes from a character in a 19th century Scottish novel.
"The representations are misleading to consumers because despite an expectation that a product identified as shortbread contains some butter, the product contains no butter," the lawsuit says.
"Shortbread was invented in Scotland centuries ago and derived its name from its short, or crumbly, structure, caused by the high proportion of fat, in the form of butter. The high fat content of shortbread inhibits gluten, allowing the dough to rise, contributing to the tender, crumbly texture."
The suit says instead of flour, Nabisco uses vegetable oils to imitate butter.
"Through reading and understanding the product's labeling, including the identification as shortbread cookies, the Scottish themes, and awareness of the use of butter for shortbread cookies, Plaintiff expected the product contained some butter," the suit says.