Tags | activia, class-action, danactive, dannon, lawsuit, yoghurt
Here’s an interesting story in terms of the wording of Dannon’s health claims for their DanActive yoghurt – but the compromise wording seems in many ways more misleading. At least the statement that DanActive has “a positive effect on your digestive tract’s immune system” is something that can be proved or disproved with research – and the court in effect ruled that it hadn’t been proved. But that DanActive will “interact with your digestive tract’s immune system” is true of anything. You could eat mud and it would interact with your digestive tract’s immune system – it’s a meaningless phrase. Which means that the word “immune” is only in there to suggest some kind of non-specific link between the yoghurt and the consumer’s immune system.
The class-action lawsuit against Dannon alleging false advertising of their Activia and DanActive products has finally been settled. As you may recall (but probably don’t), the suit was filed back in January 2008, and accused the company of advertising yogurt-induced health benefits that may or may not actually exist.
As part of the settlement, the company agreed to make changes to the labeling and advertising of Activia and DanActive by increasing the visibility of the scientific names of the “probiotic” cultures in the yogurts, court documents said. Dannon also agreed to remove the word “immunity” from its DanActive products.
DanActive labels that say the yogurt has “a positive effect on your digestive tract’s immune system” will be reworded to say the yogurt will “interact with your digestive tract’s immune system.”
If you go to www.csgrr.com/dannon you can claim part of a $35 million fund set up by Dannon to pay out to people who believe they were the victims of Dannon falsely advertising the health benefits of eating their yoghurts.
Comments
My wife & I have been eating Activia for several years and have never had a problem. It has helped both of us with our regularity. It has been much more effective than bran granules (no names because I don’t want anyone to think I am against a specific product.) Any hi fiber diet can cause bloating and excessive gas. Just read the labels.
Posted by Rick Medcalf on 20th February 2010
I was having a bit of a problem with bowel movements so thought I would try Activia. After one week I had severe cramping and bloating such as I have never had in my 71 years. I stopped the Activia once I found that many others have posted the same problem. A week later, the cramps and bloating are still there.
Posted by Jim Keck on 20th February 2010
I used the product for three weeks because I thought it would work .It didn’t do what the advertising says it’s supposed to do . I had so much stomach pain and constipation that I would say if I had to keep eating it I would have ended up in the hopsital . I eat other Yoghurts and haven’t experience the same problems .
Posted by Jessie Hickey on 29th January 2010
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