Snack company to pay $4 million to settle class action lawsuit over false non-GMO label on products

Deep River Snacks, a Connecticut-based company, has settled a class-action lawsuit over its “non-GMO ingredients” label by creating a $4 million reimbursement fund for consumers. The lawsuit, filed in 2020 in New York, alleged the company’s potato chips used dairy from cows fed GMOs, despite the packaging’s non-GMO claim. Plaintiffs argued that the label closely resembled the Non-GMO Project seal but did not meet the independent organization’s stricter standards, which restrict the use of GMO feed for animals.

Deep River Snacks, a subsidiary of Mexico-based Arca Continental, denied any wrongdoing but agreed to the settlement. Consumers who purchased chips with the “non-GMO ingredients” label between February 2, 2017, and December 6, 2024, are eligible for reimbursement. With proof of purchase, they can claim $5 for the first product and 50 cents for each additional product, with no limit. Without proof, they can claim $5 for the first product and up to $5 for 10 additional products.

The settlement also requires the company to discontinue the disputed label. Claims must be filed by July 28, with details available at potatochipssettlement.com.

Source: New Haven Register

Organic & Non-GMO Insights February 2025