Smucker Gets Partial Win in California False Advertising Lawsuit

J.M. Smucker Co. won partial dismissal of a putative federal class-action alleging the company fraudulently markets 9 Lives, Kibble-and-Bits, and Meow Mix as healthful when the pet food contains titanium dioxide.

Consumer Robin Humphrey’s claims she relied on company representations that its products were healthy for pets can proceed but she lacks standing to assert claims on behalf of a subclass of purchasers in nine other states, Judge William H. Orrick, of the US District Court for the Northern District of California, ruled. The court permitted Humphrey an opportunity to amend the claim.

“The alleged statements at issue ...