Van Leeuwen class action alleges Honeycomb ice cream lacks honey

Van Leeuwen Honeycomb ice cream class action overview: 

• Who: Two ice cream customers are suing Van Leeuwen.
• Why: The plaintiffs claim the company’s Honeycomb ice cream doesn’t contain honey or honeycomb.
• Where: The Van Leeuwen Honeycomb ice cream class action was filed in a New York federal court.

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, a Brooklyn-based company known for its premium ice cream, is facing a new class action lawsuit alleging deceptive marketing practices in relation to its Honeycomb ice cream.

Plaintiffs Chioma Viola Ozuzu and Telon Weathington filed the class action complaint against Van Leeuwen Ice Cream LLC on Nov. 15 in a New York federal court, alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws. 

According to the Van Leeuwen class action lawsuit, the company’s “Honeycomb” ice cream misleads consumers into believing it contains honeycomb, or even honey, when it does not.

The plaintiffs allege that the name “Honeycomb” on Van Leeuwen’s products implies the inclusion of honeycomb. However, this marketing is misleading, the plaintiffs allege.

‘Unbeknownst to customers, the products contain no honeycomb. Indeed, the products contain no honey whatsoever,” the lawsuit says.

According to the lawsuit, this misrepresentation deceives consumers and leads them to pay a premium price for what they believe is a gourmet offering.

Ozuzu, a New York resident, says she bought the ice cream at a Van Leeuwen store and later at a grocery store in 2024, while Weathington, from California, made similar purchases in 2023. 

Both plaintiffs say they relied on the labeling and would not have purchased—or would have paid less for—the products had they known the truth.

Premium image of company undermined by lack of ‘real’ ingredients, lawsuit alleges

Van Leeuwen markets its products as high-quality, artisanal ice cream, often priced at around $12 per pint, the lawsuit states. 

The brand emphasizes its commitment to luxury ingredients, such as high-end chocolate and pistachios, positioning itself as a gourmet dessert option. However, the plaintiffs allege this premium image is undermined by the misleading “Honeycomb” label, which they say falsely advertises the ice cream’s contents.

As a result, the plaintiffs are looking to represent anyone in the United States who bought the ice creams listed in the lawsuit. They’re suing for breach of warranty, false advertising and violations of state consumer laws, and are seeking certification of the class action, damages, fees, costs and a jury trial.

Meanwhile, in 2023, Van Leeuwen recalled more than 4,000 pints of Brown Sugar Chunk ice cream due to the risk it contained undeclared walnuts.

What do you think of the allegations in this Van Leeuwen class action? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiffs are represented by Robert Abiri, Benjamin Heikali, Ruhandy Glezakos and Joshua Nassir of Treehouse Law LLP.

The Van Leeuwen class action is Chioma Viola Ozuzu et al. v. Van Leeuwen Ice Cream LLC, Case No. 1:24-cv-08714  in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

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