Nutella: Consumer Class Action Settlement
The moms who took a big food corporation to court won.
Their goal was to get the maker of Nutella to admit that, contrary to its ads, the product is no more healthy than a candy bar. In the process, these moms made millions and you can get a cut of it.
Laura Rude-Barbato, mother of three took the maker of Nutella to court and won. Athena Hohenberg, a San Diego mother of a 4-year-old daughter also took the company to court.
Rude-Barbato said their tv ad which claimed that "nutella is made with simple, quality ingredients like hazelnuts, skim milk and a hint of coco," was false.
"I thought it was at least as nutritious as peanut butter if not more and that's the impression i got from the advertisement. I thought it had health benefits and it clearly doesn't," she said.
After watching the ads, Rude-Barbato was shocked to discover that what she had been feeding her children wasn't healthy at all.
In fact, just two tablespoons of Nutella contains 200 calories, 21 grams of sugar and 11 grams of fat.
"I felt duped," said Rude-Barbato.
The company website still asserts: "when used in moderation with complementary foods, nutella® is a quick and easy tool to encourage kids to eat whole grains, such as whole wheat toast."
She fought back for truth in advertising and maker of Nutella, Fererro USA awarded her $3.5 million - that's anywhere from $4 to $20 per person.
Anyone who bought Nutella between Jan. 1, 2008 and Feb. 3, 2012, (or Aug. 1, 2009 and Jan. 23, 2012 in California) can file a claim.
To find out more about the consumer class action settlement click here.
