On Behalf of Cargill, Obtained First-of-its-Kind Class Action Settlement Permitting Continued Use of “Natural” Labeling

Howerton v. Cargill, Incorporated; Martin et al. v. Cargill, Incorporated; and Related Actions

Robins Kaplan served as lead defense counsel for global food and agriculture company Cargill in a series of consolidated class actions in which plaintiffs challenged the "natural" marketing and labeling of Cargill's Truvia®️ Natural Sweetener tabletop sugar alternative.

The matter was resolved in a first-of-its kind nationwide class action settlement, which was granted final approval by the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii. According to the settlement, Cargill agreed to provide additional information about the process for making Truvia® Natural Sweetener and why it is natural. Most notably, for the first time in the history of “natural” litigation, the settlement agreement expressly permitted the defendant to continue label and market its product as “natural.”