SAN JOSE, Calif. (CN) — A federal judge on Thursday refused to toss all claims against a sugar company accused in a putative class action of advertising its products as eco-friendly while giving the impression of environmentally beneficial farming practices that are actually harmful to Florida’s ecosystems.
In a mixed-bag ruling, U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen said the Florida Crystals Corporation used statements such as “Farming to Help Save the Planet” and “our farms help fight climate change & build healthy soil” on its products and “the labeling, packaging and marketing of the products ‘lead reasonable consumers, like plaintiff, to believe that the products will — through supporting Florida Crystals’ farming operations — benefit the Earth and soil and help fight climate change.’”
Van Keulen ruled the plaintiff could bring false advertising claims against Florida Crystals Corporation generally, without tying them to a specific product, although Florida Crystals Regenerative Organic Certified Sugars and Specialty Raw Cane Sugars were cited in the complaint as examples of products bearing the statements.
The plaintiff said she purchased the supposedly eco-friendly products due to environmental concerns, including air pollution from preharvest sugarcane burning and harm to local water sources.
Van Keulen noted that preharvest burning is more harmful than the alternative practice of green harvesting and that the company did not deny using the practice for all...
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