Milk product company Fairlife, its parent company Coca-Cola and other defendants agreed to a $21 million settlement to resolve class action lawsuit claims they lied to consumers about mistreating cows.
The settlement benefits consumers who purchased Fairlife or Fair Oak Farms milk products on or before April 27, 2022. The settlement covers milk, ice cream, butter, yogurt and other dairy products from both Fairlife and Fair Oak Farms. A full list of included products is available on the settlement website.
According to a multidistrict litigation against Fairlife, Fair Oak Farms, Coca-Cola and other companies, Fairlife and Fair Oak Farms milk products use false advertising that promises the milk comes from dairy cows that are treated humanely. Specifically, labeling on Fairlife milk products reportedly claims the cows are treated with “the utmost care” and “extraordinary care and comfort.”
Despite these marketing claims, Fairlife allegedly mistreats cows and lies to customers about this conduct. Plaintiffs in the Fairlife class action lawsuit accuse the dairy brand of “horrific animal abuse.” Instead of treating its cows fairly as customers expect, Fairlife allegedly lies to consumers and creates an ethical marketing facade in order to charge a higher price for its products.
“Plaintiff’s payment of the Fairlife Milk Products was at a premium since the Products were not worth their advertised prices because the statements were false and misleading,” the Fairlife class action lawsuit contends.
According to the plaintiffs, they and other customers would not have paid a premium price for Fairlife or Fair Oak Farms milk products if they knew the truth about the brand’s treatment of dairy cows.
Fairlife, Fair Oak Farms, Fairlife’s parent company — The Coca-Cola Co. — and other defendants named in the case haven’t admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to resolve the consolidated class action lawsuit with a $21 million settlement.
Under the terms of the deal, class members can collect a cash payment based on the Fairlife products they purchased.
The settlement allows for refunds of up to 25%, though the deal caps payments for class members at $80 with proof of purchase or $20 without proof of purchase. Class members who claim purchases both with and without proof of purchase can collect payments of up to $100. Actual payment amounts may be higher or lower depending on the number of claims filed with the settlement.
Proof of purchase included with a claim could be a store receipt, physical milk bottle or other records that document purchases of eligible Fairlife or Fair Oak Farms products.
The deadline for exclusion and objection is Aug. 25, 2022.
The final approval hearing for the settlement is scheduled for Sept. 28, 2022.
In order to benefit from the settlement, Class Members must submit a valid claim form with the administrator by Dec. 27, 2022.
The protein drinks have been in shortage for at least 2 months, since a friend of mine was recovering from surgery and preferred vanilla Fairlife over the others. I travel a little bit, so I was able to scrounge him up some vanilla a few weeks ago at a Sam's Club, then last week I saw just chocolate. The nearby Costco also had chocolate. It is about twice the price from Amazon over Sam's Club.
"Cows were also poked, stabbed, and shoved with metal tubes and broomsticks," the statement continued, describing the horrors that its investigator witnessed and filmed at Fair Oaks Farm. "When cows in the milking line would not cooperate, frustrated employees can be seen bending and breaking bones in the cows tails as punishment for not entering the confusing rotary system. The investigator also witnessed employees forcing cows into the stall by punching, kicking, slapping, and hitting in the cow in the udders and reproductive system."
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