Law Firms File Class Action Alleging Gerber Deceives Toddlers' Parents With Misleading Labels

SAN FRANCISCO, July 14, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Gerber, the best-known baby food company in America, has a well-known brand built on a reputation for providing healthful and nutritious food for babies and toddlers. Unfortunately, with its Graduates Puffs, the company is misleading parents into buying a product that is far from nutritious, according to the class action complaint filed today.

The plaintiffs allege that the packaging for Puffs is dominated by pictures of fruit or vegetables: juicy peaches, slices of ripe banana, nutritious sweet potatoes. But the ingredients list belies these pictures. Banana-flavored Puffs contain no bananas, only a trace amount of banana flavoring. Sweet potato-flavored Puffs don't contain actual sweet potatoes, or any other vegetable, only miniscule amounts of sweet potato "flavor." The closest thing to a fruit or vegetable in Puffs is a very tiny amount of dried apple puree — powder, in other words.

Three prominent consumer advocacy firms—the Stanley Law Group, Bailey & Glasser LLP, and David F. Sugerman—have filed the class action, claiming that these depictions of Graduates mislead toddlers' parents.

The suit alleges that parents trying to buy healthy and nutritious snacks for their toddlers have trusted Gerber's reputation and package presentations, paid Gerber's premium prices based on that reputation, and, in exchange, unwittingly provided their toddlers with empty calories.

Far from the healthy treat the labels and Gerber's reputation suggest, Puffs are little more than flour and sugar.

The lawsuit was filed in the Superior Court of California, San Francisco County, and is titled Gyorke-Takatri, et al., v. Nestle USA, Inc. and Gerber Products Company.

Stanley Law Group earned its reputation as a preeminent law firm by offering first-rate legal representation and sophisticated counsel to clients nationwide. Since first opening its doors, its lawyers have provided incomparable levels of personal attention and expertise at all stages of litigation, from initial consultation through trial. The firm's practice areas include complex class action litigation and consumer protection litigation. The firm's attorneys come from unique and diverse backgrounds, combining considerable talents, experience and integrity to provide an unparalleled level of passion and commitment. The lead counsel on this case, Stephen Gardner, recently joined the firm after a decade as Litigation Direction for the non-profit Center for Science in the Public Interest.                         

Founded by Ben Bailey and Brian Glasser in 1999 in Charleston, West Virginia, Bailey & Glasser LLP has grown to include nearly 50 lawyers, with offices in eight states and the District of Columbia. The firm's complex litigation practice focuses on high-stakes commercial litigation; class actions for consumers, insureds, investors, and retirement plan participants; catastrophic injury and defective product cases; antitrust; and whistleblower lawsuits.  The firm has extensive experience in product liability law, and its lawyers routinely handle legal matters for injured individuals and consumers economically harmed by defective products.

David F. Sugerman handles class action and injury cases for Oregon consumers. David has extensive trial and appellate experience with disputes involving dangerous products, injuries, class actions, consumer fraud, and toxic exposures.

Contacts:
Stephen Gardner
Stanley Law Group
214.443.4316
[email protected]

John Roddy & Elizabeth Ryan
Bailey & Glasser
617.439.6730
[email protected]
[email protected]

David Sugerman
503.228.6474
[email protected]

SOURCE Bailey & Glasser LLP