Danone files lawsuit against Chobani over yogurt protein claims
Packages of Chobani yogurt sit on the shelf at a grocery store July 7, 2021 in Washington, DC. The New York-based Chobani, known for its Greek yogurt, has filed regulatory paperwork for an initial public offering (IPO). (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty I
Two of the leading producers of snack yogurt find themselves in a heated legal battle, going head-to-head over protein content.
Danone, the parent company of Dannon, filed a lawsuit against Chobani, accusing their rival of misleading customers with claims of a higher protein line of yogurt.
Danone is hoping a court will rule in their favor for unspecified damages and to have Chobani change their labels for certain tubs of their Greek yogurt.
In the federal complaint, Danone says Chobani purposely inflates protein claims on their products of Chobani 20G Protein, a direct rival to Danone’s Oikos Pro, according to the food and beverage company said.
What they're saying:
"This conduct is particularly insidious when Chobani knows that healthcare providers and the federal government are directing the public to choose foods that offer higher concentrations of protein to maintain their health," Danone said.
According to the complaint, Danone said Chobani inflates their serving sizes on yogurt tubs in attempts to get to the 20 grams of protein density that Danone produces in their 5.3 ounce Oikos Pro.
Danone says if Chobani were following U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidelines, their tubs would have fewer than 18 grams of protein.
What they're saying:
The complaint continues, "If consumers knew the truth, instead of choosing the Chobani product, they would choose either Oikos Pro for a true ultra-high-protein option, or Oikos Triple Zero for a better price."
The Source: This story was written with information provided by Reuters. This story was reported from Orlando.