Hormel is in hot water over all-natural claims. Via food.thefuntimesguide.com.
As far as meat companies go, there are few that represent the oft-criticized, environmentally destructive factory farming complex America is known for more than Hormel.
The processed meat giant produces everything from ham and salami to turkey, chili and more.
Recently, in respond to consumer buying trends, the company has begun putting marketing slogans like “Natural Choice” onto many of its meat products, leading consumers to believe that they may be buying antibiotic-free, hormone-free and/or responsibly raised meats.
But a new lawsuit is alleging that those labels are misleading, calling for an end to Hormel’s advertising strategy claiming that it violates laws designed to protect the consumer, according to this article from Bloomberg.
The lawsuit was filed in Washington, D.C. Superior Court by the Animal Legal Defense Fund, which argued that “there is nothing natural about the way Hormel’s Natural Choice products are produced.”
They said that there is no evidence in company filings that the products are produced in separate facilities from the regular meat the company produces, and are raised indoors and likely given growth hormones (including ractopamine, a controversial drug), as well as “subtherapeutic antibiotics.”
In addition the lawsuit notes that Hormel’s own company presentations show a pig with a picture of its loin that can go into any type of product the company produces.
“Deception is baked into the brand,” said Kelsey Eberly, a ALDF staff atorney.
Considering that most Americans have a skewed perspective on what “all-natural” labels really mean as noted in the Bloomberg article, it’s easy to see why they might be misled by such claims into thinking all-natural means more than the factory-farmed, “conventional” meat produced by the company,
Hormel has argued that its product language has been scrutinized by government inspectors and that it is in full compliance with USDA rules, leading some to say the lawsuit may face a difficult challenge to prove its claims.
Hormel’s statement reportedly said that the company’s products “are produced, labeled, and marketed in conformance with all applicable laws and regulations.”
But for weary consumers tired of false, empty marketing claims who simply want clear, concise and truthful labeling, this has to be a frustrating development.
It’s worth noting that Hormel recently bought Applegate Farms, the largest organic and natural meat producer in the United States, for nearly $1 billion. They are a strong advocate against GMO labeling as well, so much so that the grandson of the company’s founder, who is not with the company, donated $500,000 of his own money to make up for Hormel’s donations against labeling.
Applegate Farms said in a statement that it is a stand-alone company and it cannot speak for Hormel in this situation.
For more on the lawsuit and what you need to know you can check out the full Bloomberg article here.
