Lorna Doone Shortbread Cookies Are Not Real Shortbread, Class Action Alleges

Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.

Lorna Doone Shortbread Class Action Lawsuit Overview: 

• Who: A cookie consumer is suing Mondelēz Global LLC, the maker of Lorna Doon shortbread. 
• What: The consumer says the company falsely represents its Lorna Doone Shortbread Cookies, contending they are made with ingredients consumers would expect in real shortbread. 
• Where: The class action lawsuit is pending in Illinois federal court.

Lorna Doone Shortbread Cookies are not real shortbread, and customers should be compensated for the cookies’ misleading labeling, a new class action lawsuit alleges. 

Lead plaintiff Goldie Troutt filed the class action lawsuit against Mondelēz Global LLC 

Oct. 19 in an Illinois federal court accusing the cookie maker of false advertising and violating federal and state consumer laws. Troutt wants to represent consumers in multiple states who were allegedly duped by the product’s labeling. 

Lorna Doone Made With Vegetable Oils, Baking Soda, Claims Class Action Lawsuit

Troutt says Mondelēz sells Shortbread Cookies under the Lorna Doone brand in packaging that is misleading because the product’s ingredients are inconsistent with what consumers expect from a food identified as shortbread cookies.

In the lawsuit, Troutt goes into the history of shortbread, its origins in Scotland and how its name derives from a short, crumbly texture created by the high proportion of butter used in its recipe.

The lawsuit also turns to several dictionary definitions to point out that multiple dictionaries define shortbread as containing a lot of butter.

Troutt says, unlike other biscuits, shortbread does not contain leavening like baking powder or soda. 

The class action lawsuit says the Lorna Doone Shortbread Cookies ingredient list “reveals it is inconsistent with what consumers expect from shortbread cookies.” 

This is because it has an absence of butter, the shortening is provided exclusively from vegetable oils—canola oil and palm oil, and it uses baking soda. 

“The front label fails to inform consumers that if they want “Shortbread Cookies,” they will have to supply their own butter, and somehow remove the baking soda,” the class action states.

“Consumers expect that companies – especially larger and respected businesses, like Mondelēz, to tell them the truth, not half-truths.”

As a result, Mondelēz gained an advantage over its competitors and tricked consumers into paying more than they should have for the shortbread, the class action states. 

It alleges the amount in controversy exceeds $5 million.

Troutt is looking to represent an Illinois Class and a multi-state Class of consumers from North Dakota, Kansas, West Virginia, Wyoming, and Delaware who bought the Lorna Doone cookies.

The class action lawsuit takes action under state consumer fraud acts, breach of warranty, negligent misrepresentation, and fraud. 

Troutt is seeking certification of the class action, an injunction, damages, costs, fees and a jury trial. 

The class action follows a similar complaint in June, alleging Pepperidge Farm doesn’t put as much butter in its Golden Butter Crackers as customers expect.

Mondelēz, the maker of Lorna Doone shortbread, has been accused of falsely advertising other products, including Oreo cookies and belVita breakfast biscuits.

What do you think of the allegations about the shortbread cookies? Let us know in the comments! 

The plaintiff is represented by Spencer Sheehan of Sheehan & Associates, P.C. 

The Lorna Doone Shortbread Class Action Lawsuit is Goldie Troutt et al., v. Mondelēz Global LLC., Case No. 3:21-cv-01279 in the U.S. District Court Southern District of Illinois. 

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• Google Chrome Users Ask Judge to Certify Class Action Claiming Google Illegally Collects Browser Data
• Do You Qualify: BHU Keto Bars False Advertising Class Action Lawsuit Investigation
• Jimmy John’s Franchise No-Poach Class Action Settlement Reached
• Do You Qualify: JUUL Vaping Heart and Lung Side Effects Lawsuit Claim Review