LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) — Godiva is facing a class action alleging its chocolate products contain dangerous levels of heavy metals.
Elizabeth Kermani, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, filed a complaint April 14 in Los Angeles federal court against Godiva Chocolatier Inc., alleging violation of the California Unfair Competition Law, breach of implied warranty and other claims.
Kermani alleges in her class action that Godiva's Signature Dark Chocolate 72% Cacao contains dangerous levels of heavy metals. She claims Consumer Reports research found that one ounce of the Godiva chocolate product contains 146% of California's daily maximum allow dose level and 25% of the maximum allowable dose for cadmium.
Kermani claims the heavy metals are unsafe for consumption yet Godiva deliberately misleads consumers and sells the product without disclosing the heavy metal content. She also claims Godiva had a duty to warn consumers about the risks of consuming their product and that she and other consumers would not have purchased the chocolate if they had known it was not safe for consumption. Kermani alleges she and others have been exposed to increased health risks by consuming the chocolate and that Godiva knew or should have known the product labels were deceptive.
Kermani and the class seek monetary relief, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. They are represented by Ryan Clarkson, Bahar Sodaify, Alan Gudino and Ryan Ardi of The Clarkson Law Firm PC in Malibu, California.
District Court Central District of California Western Division case number 2:23-CV-02832