« Show off », « fanfare »… It is in these terms that Lindt preferred to denigrate the quality of its own products to avoid a trial in the United States, according to the Swiss press.
The case dates back two years. At the end of 2022, the American consumer association Consumer Reports – which tested 28 chocolate bars marketed in the United States – revealed that two references from the Swiss chocolatier's Excellence range contain toxic heavy metals (lead, cadmium), above standards set by the State of California.
“Exaggerated advertising”
Other manufacturers are also singled out. Consumers in Alabama, California, Florida, Illinois, Nevada and New York are going to court in February 2023. Even if Lindt's dark chocolate bars don't get the worst rating, the plaintiffs insist that they paid more for them in order to afford quality products.
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« In its defense strategy, the company dismantled its own quality promises », said the German-speaking Swiss newspaper on Sunday NZZ on Sunday. The chocolate maker's lawyers claimed that the mentions « excellence » et « made with our finest ingredients » affixed to the packaging were only “ exaggerated advertising », unusable to incur liability, according to a first instance decision of a court in the Eastern District of New York, dating from early September, consulted by AFP. With this “ daring defense “, the group – which recorded a turnover of 5.4 billion euros last year, up 4.6% – ” walk on a tightrope », Estimates the French-speaking daily Time .
At this point, this strategy has not borne fruit. The New York court rejected the Swiss group's arguments.
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