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Dannon’s Activia Challenge Results in a Lawsuit

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March 18, 2010
	Dr. Gary Huber : Head Medical Ego

I hate to say it but…I told you so. Looks like Dannon is serving up something more than sugary yogurt these days. In a class action lawsuit filed in a Cleveland Federal Court, Dannon has been found guilty of false advertisement regarding its “Activia” brand yogurts. It will now be serving up $35 million dollars in fees paid out to consumers of this product. 

Well, how about that? 

Back in June of 2009 Healthy Alter Ego told you this very issue was a load of garbage. Dannon was claiming that their Activia and DanActive yogurts were loaded with clinically proven active cultures that were scientifically proven to boost your immunity.  They also paid actress Jamie Lee Curtis to report about her bowel regularity in commercials and claim it was due to Dannon yogurt.

It seems that Dannon is now being forced to remove words like “clinically” and “scientifically proven” from its ads and adjust the false claim that it is helping your bowel health and immune system. Dannon’s creativity was not limited to its made-up health benefits; they also have some creativity in their marketing department. 

Guess what their made up name was for the active bacteria in their yogurt? Bifidus Regularis.

I only hope their accountants name is John Crapsalot because he is going to make a mess when it comes to adjusting the companies profit projections. 

It seems the federal court was not interested in the other content of Dannon yogurt products so the company can continue to include hormones, antibiotics, sugar and pus in each and every serving of its sugary goo. 

In our January post on 8 Health Foods That Aren’t I discussed some of these issues. I hate posers and pretenders and this lawsuit represents just that.  If you want in on the action, Dannon has set up a website and phone number that you can call to receive your $15 to $30 refund if you bought Dannon yogurt under this false pretence. The number is 1-888-418-6122 or go to dannonsettlement.com and fill out a form. 

Boring but true, healthy foods come mostly from the ground. Some move around on the legs and fins that nature provided. Healthy foods don’t come from big factories and they don’t have fancy labels.