(Yes, really!)
A Buffalo, NY lawyer is suing several food manufacturers claiming that corn syrup causes diabetes:
http://hudsonvalley.ynn.com/content/top_stories/670200/buffalo-lawyer-files-lawsuit-against-makers-of-high-fructose-corn-syrup/
It is the beginning of a suspected wave of litigation surrounding food:
http://sustainability.thomsonreuters.com/2013/06/14/food-companies-confront-spike-in-consumer-fraud-lawsuits
Some of these cases actually win in court, including one case last year against Nutella, a hazelnut chocolate spread. The plaintiffs alleged that Nutella, which has nutrition information right on the jar, was not as healthy as advertised:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57423319-10391704/nutella-health-claims-net-$3.05-million-settlement-in-class-action-lawsuit/
Did you ever think that Nutella was healthy? I certainly didn’t.
Many of these claims are empowered by legislation. We have seen legislations curbing salts, soda, trans fats, etc. Sadly, legislation does not need a basis in fact, and often is intended to capitalize on public paranoia about products. The legislation then gives credence to non-scientific claims – a problem that extends from food, to chemicals, to vaccines.
Tom Stebbins, Executive Director for the Lawsuit Reform Alliance of New York, will be available for interview to discuss these issues in the coming weeks.
Please contact Tom directly if you are interested in an interview via phone:518.512.5265 or email .
The Lawsuit Reform Alliance of New York (LRANY) is a broad based coalition of hardworking New York business leaders, farmers, health care providers and consumers who are committed to changing New York’s burdensome and expensive legal system to help create more jobs and energize our State’s economy.