Beloved ice cream brand pays out $9M after ingredients list fail

Shoppers who purchased Breyers Ice Cream between 2016 and 2024 may be entitled to a share of an $8.85 million settlement.

The ice cream brand is paying out nearly $9 million following a class action lawsuit filed against Conopco, Inc and Unilever United States, Inc.

According to the lawsuit, Conopco and Unilever falsely advertised Breyers Natural Vanilla ice cream ingredients Supreme Court of the State of New York, Bronx County.

“Plaintiffs filed this lawsuit against Defendants alleging that Defendants’ labeling of Breyers Natural Vanilla Ice Cream gave consumers the impression that the ice cream contained a vanilla flavor derived only from the vanilla plant and not from non-vanilla plant sources, and allege that it contained non-vanilla plants. -vanilla-vanilla flavors,” according to a press release.

Conopco and Unilever, the advertiser and parent companies of Breyers, agreed to the settlement but insisted they had done nothing wrong.

According to the lawsuit filed earlier this year, the ingredients list did not include the non-vanilla plant flavors.

The alleged mislabeling was the result of two actions: negligent misrepresentation and unjust enrichment on behalf of a national class, according to Law Inc.

The plaintiffs sought monetary damages and an injunction to stop the alleged false advertising.

Under the agreement in court, the $8.85 million in monetary damages will go to a settlement fund, and the cash payments will go to qualified plaintiffs.

Ice cream shoppers who purchased any size Breyers Natural Vanilla product in the U.S. sometime between April 21, 2016 and August 14, 2024 would likely qualify.

The lawsuit alleged that Conopco and Unilever falsely advertised the ingredients for Breyers Natural Vanilla ice cream

Shoppers who decide to do so file a claim online or by mail you can choose from two types: a claim with proof of purchase and a claim without proof of purchase.

Proof of purchase claims are claims that are supported by documents proving that someone purchased a product.

Breyers buyers who qualify for a cash payment from the claim with proof of purchase will receive $1 for each natural vanilla ice cream product with no item limit.

Claims without proof of purchase are made by someone who does not have documentation proving that they purchased an item.

Shoppers in this situation who decided to file a claim without proof of purchase can earn $1 for each product, with eight being the maximum.

However, settlement members who make claims for products with and without proof of purchase will receive these compensation amounts combined.

Consumers must submit their claim forms on or before February 19, and each household may submit only one.

Shoppers who decide to file a claim online or by mail may or may not provide proof of purchase with their claims

The Court will hold a hearing on November 21 to decide whether the $8.85 million settlement is fair.

Breyers must also create a new product formula within one year that “does not contain vanilla derived from non-vanilla plant sources.”