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<i>Pom v. Coke</i> Could Create a Juicy Precedent on Food Labels

By Kyle-Beth Hilfer
February 28, 2014

Food companies will be watching closely a Supreme Court case this spring that could establish the fate of private causes of action challenging food labeling. In a case brought by POM Wonderful (POM) against Coca-Cola Co., Inc. (Coke), the Supreme Court will decide “whether the court of appeals erred in holding that a private party cannot bring a Lanham Act claim challenging a product label regulated under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.” While the case focuses on federal law, it also has implications for state causes of action. In particular, the class action bar has been prolific in its challenges to food labels, and this case could affect the future viability of such actions.

Factual Background

On its website, POM calls itself the “largest grower of pomegranates in the United States.” Among its offerings, the company sells “POM WONDERFUL” brand bottled pomegranate juice and a pomegranate blueberry juice blend. Its competitor Coke markets a “pomegranate blueberry flavored” juice. Coke's product is 99.4% apple and grape juice, 0.3% pomegranate juice, 0.2% blueberry juice, and .1% raspberry juice. The parties cannot agree on the product's name, with POM saying it is called “Pomegranate Blueberry” and Coke retorting that the full name is “Pomegranate Blueberry Flavored Blend of 5 Juices.”

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