Swiss Chocolate Ingredients at the Heart of a Lawsuit

Swiss chocolatier Lindt & Sprungli are contesting a class action lawsuit filed by US consumers over alleged high levels of heavy metals found in their dark chocolate bars, particularly the 70% and 85% cocoa varieties. 

 

The lawsuit, launched in February 2023, was triggered by a 2022 Consumer Reports investigation that detected elevated levels of lead and cadmium in 23 out of 28 chocolate bars they tested from various brands, including Lindt. 

 

Consumers in US states, including Alabama, California, Florida, Illinois, Nevada, and New York, argue that they paid premium prices for Lindt chocolates believing they were purchasing high-quality, safe products. The plaintiffs claim that Lindt violated state labelling rules by failing to disclose the presence of heavy metals.

 

But Lindt, in trying to wiggle out of the suit, said that their promise of being "expertly crafted with the finest ingredients" – which was stated on their packaging – was merely "puffery". 

 

But Lindts' flippant defense dropped like a lead balloon with the Eastern District of New York court, when a September 2024 decision dismissed their motion to end the legal proceeding. US District Judge Ann M Donnelly noted that Lindt’s marketing claims could lead consumers to expect a level of safety and purity that, according to the plaintiffs, was not met.

 

Top seed Sivasangari Subramaniam (left) fell at the last hurdle in the women's final of the ACE Malaysia Squash Cup today. 

 

World No. 10 Amina Orfi of Egypt outfought her to win 3-2: 8-11, 11-9, 12-10, 8-10, 11-6 in 88 minutes.

 

I had expected Sivasangari to triumph but it was not to be. 😞😞😞