Yogurt in court

Dannon settles a class-action lawsuit over health claims

By Culinate staff

March 3, 2010

Suspicious about the health claims on all those packages of “probiotic” yogurt? So were a lot of other consumers. As Consumer Reports pointed out last fall, yogurt manufacturer Dannon has agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit over the labeling on its Activia yogurt products, which claimed to boost immunity and regulate the digestive system.

As former Health+Food columnist Catherine Bennett Dunster noted here two years ago, probiotics — she defined them as “live microorganisms that can be found in food and dietary supplements” — are indeed good for you, but manufacturer claims about their benefits might not live up to their own hype.

The chief result of the Dannon settlement — apart from raising awareness about product labeling — is a $35 million fund set up by the company to reimburse customers who bought the controversial products. If you think you qualify, check out the website set up by the prosecuting law firm.