Let’s say you open that tub of Breyers “Natural Vanilla” ice cream, perhaps believing that it will taste heavenly and be creamy because it is made from the vanilla plant. Well, nothing sounds so perfect than that, right? But hold on for a sec, it seems that may not be as “natural” as it appears to be, and that’s precisely why we’re seeing this Breyers Ice Cream Class Action Lawsuit. You see, America’s most famous ice cream brand, Breyers, got into all the mess that could have been avoided. Allegations against it were that its “Natural Vanilla” flavor fell far short of the claims made. Instead of the pure vanilla goodness they promised, it was claimed that Breyers used artificial flavors or cheaper vanilla substitutes. Customers felt tricked, naturally.
All this culminated in a lawsuit filed in 2024 in the New York Supreme Court, termed McKinley et al. v. Conopco, Inc. et al. People fed up claimed to have been misled into believing that they were paying premium prices for a premium product made by Breyers. Spoiler alert though, they were not happy.
So, What’s the Big Issue Here?
To be honest, by this point, it all comes down to trust and oftentimes the lack of it, you know? Like, Breyers was sued for false advertising whose claims were that the ice cream was not made 100% from real vanilla, as they claimed. As it was in the reports, apparently, there was an inclusion of artificial flavoring or alternative sources of vanilla that did not exactly sound natural. For many, this was not about dessert but about deception aka cheating on the customers.
And this is more than a Breyers problem; all food companies are under the microscope for their labels. Consumers like to read and believe what’s on the box; therefore, this lawsuit became a rallying cry for consumers sick of false claims, and that’s currently a big issue in the United States.
How Much Money Are We Talking About Here?
You see, now to get to the point: Breyers has come down to a $8.85 million settlement. But before you put the debugger and say, “Okay, you got us,” think again, the company denied all accusations and claimed its ice cream is made from naturally sourced vanilla, certified by the Rainforest Alliance. Sure enough, actually, they claim to have settled to avoid a long and costly legal battle.
Still, this is a hefty amount of cash to come up with six million bucks. And here’s the sweet part: If you purchased any Breyers “Natural Vanilla” between April 21, 2016, and August 14, 2024, then you may be eligible to get a piece of this payout, which is the sweetest part of it all.
How Do You Get Your Share?
Well, to be honest, it is actually super simple. How? Well, if the receipt would have been saved by you, well then, great! You will be able to claim $1 for each Breyers Natural Vanilla product that you purchased up to an unlimited number. Without receipt? Don’t worry. For every product purchased, you can still get $1 per product, up to eight products. That means $8 max if you’re going receipt-free. That may not be much, but think about it, with that money, you can buy some other groceries or something else which you like. Why just leave this money on the table when you can have it? That’s the thing!
Keep in mind though, just file a claim before February 19, 2025, and you are on your way to getting your money. And oh, here is the caveat: if too many people submit claims, the total payout exceeds $8.85 million, and everybody’s share will shrink for a fair share for everyone. That’s how usually things work with these settlements.