U.S. Federal Court Dismisses Consumer Lawsuit over Trident

U.S. Federal Court Dismisses Consumer Lawsuit over Trident

The U.S. Federal Court in Illinois dismissed a lawsuit against the parent company of Trident that alleged the brand’s ‘Original Flavor’ deceives customers into believing it contains real mint.

According to the U.S. District Judge Iain Johnston ruled that reasonable customers would not expect the gum to contain real mint or peppermint due to images displayed on the product's packaging.

Judge Iain Johnston wrote, “Mondelez's labeling was not deceptive, misleading, or false as a matter of law.”

“At most, Trident 'Original Flavor' packaging hints that its flavor is mint, not that its ingredients include mint or peppermint…. The packaging doesn't even use the word 'mint.' Further, mint leaves in a garden are green,” he added.

According to the judge, the proposed class action filed by the Sycamore, Illinois resident Kristen Lesorgen was similar to a case against Walmart Inc., that was dismissed in February by another Illinois Judge, who had dismissed the claims over retailer’s Great Value Fudge Mint Cookies.

The lawsuit was filed by consumers in Illinois and eight other U.S. states, and accused Chicago-based Mondelez of violating various consumer protection laws.

Accordingly, Judge Johnston dismissed the case with prejudice, which meant that the plaintiff’s cannot refile the same claim again in the Court.