McCormick feels the squeeze in French’s mustard ‘Made in USA’ class action

McCormick class action lawsuit overview:

• Who: Plaintiff Darrnell McCoy filed a class action lawsuit against McCormick & Company Inc.
• Why: McCoy claims McCormick falsely advertises its mustard products as made in the United States.
• Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in California federal court.

McCormick & Company Inc. falsely advertises that its French’s brand mustard products are made in the United States, a new class action lawsuit alleges.

Plaintiff Darrnell McCoy alleges that McCormick’s mustard products—including French’s Dijon Mustard Made with Chardonnay, French’s Honey Dijon and French’s Yellow Mustard—are misleadingly labeled as “Crafted and Bottled in Springfield, MO, USA” despite containing foreign-sourced ingredients like mustard seeds and turmeric, which are primarily imported from Canada and other countries.

McCoy argues the mustard products’ labeling is deceptive because it implies that the products are entirely made in the United States, which is not the case.

“Plaintiff and Class members purchased the Class Products, believing they were entirely grown and made in the United States without foreign-sourced, grown or made ingredients and/or components,” the French’s mustard class action says. 

McCoy wants to represent a California class of consumers who purchased McCormick mustard products labeled as “Crafted and Bottled in Springfield, MO, USA” within the past four years.

McCormick’s mustard product labeling misleads consumers, class action says

McCoy argues McCormick’s labeling misleads consumers into believing they are purchasing a product made entirely in the United States.

McCormick’s labeling practices have caused consumers to overpay for its mustard products, as they are willing to pay a premium for items they believe are made domestically, the McCormick class action states. 

“Defendant either charged a premium for its Products compared to its competitors or gained a competitive advantage by having its Products chosen over others,” the class action says. 

McCoy claims McCormick is violating California’s Consumers Legal Remedies Act, Unfair Competition Law and False Advertising Law,  as well as the Federal Trade Commission’s Made in USA Labeling Rule, which prohibits a company from making unqualified “Made in USA” claims unless all or virtually all of the product’s components are sourced domestically.

The class action lawsuit further argues McCormick is guilty of breach of express warranty, negligent misrepresentation, intentional misrepresentation and unjust enrichment.

The plaintiff demands a jury trial and requests declaratory and injunctive relief and an award of general and compensatory damages for himself and all class members. 

A consumer filed a separate class action lawsuit against McCormick in 2023 over claims the company misrepresented its El Guapo brand New Mexico chile pods as being “authentic” when they are not actually produced in the state.

Have you purchased a McCormick mustard product? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by Abbas Kazerounian and Pamela E. Prescott of Kazerouni Law Group APC.

The McCormick mustard class action lawsuit is McCoy v. McCormick & Company Inc., Case No. 1:25-at-00156, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.

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