NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - Chobani is accused of lying when it says its yogurt products are beneficial for farm workers and animals.
Agnes Herceg filed a class action lawsuit June 17 against the company in New York federal court, claiming the Fair Trade USA Certified representation on its products lacks meaningful protections for workers and animals.
"In fact, Chobani’s certification scheme was vehemently opposed by the very workers it claims to benefit. Following calls by dairy workers for better working conditions, Chobani initially met with worker-led campaigns to discuss programs that would guarantee such improvements," the suit says.
"However, Chobani ultimately decided to instead approach Fair Trade USA to partner on a new certification with lower standards than those developed by worker-led campaigns. Many of the certification’s key standards, including on minimum wage and overtime, do no more than enshrine the weak protections for farm workers already existing under U.S. law, which fall short of protections afforded to non-agricultural workers in the United States, and of Fair Trade USA’s own standards for workers abroad."
The certification doesn't include standards for animal care, the suit adds. It was filed by lawyers at Richman Law & Policy and Esbrook P.C.
Chobani released the following statement:
“Chobani has always prioritized its commitment to dairy farm families and workers – it is part of our heritage as a company, and why we were proud to pilot the industry’s first certification program with Fair Trade USA, a highly-regarded independent certifying organization, to drive positive impact for workers, and reward best practices in the dairy sector.
"Plaintiff does not—and could not—dispute that Chobani pays a premium to farms who meet Fair Trade’s audited standards, and those farms, in turn, invest in programs that benefit farm workers. We are disappointed that these efforts now serve as the basis for a frivolous lawsuit. Not only will we zealously defend against these baseless claims, we will continue working alongside our partners to best serve the dairy industry.”