Danone Sues Chobani Over Alleged Misleading Yogurt Protein Claims

Danone has filed a federal lawsuit against Chobani, accusing the American yogurt manufacturer of misleading consumers about the protein content in its Chobani 20g Protein yogurt products. The legal action, initiated on June 15 in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleges that Chobani inflates its protein content claims by using serving sizes larger than those typically recognized by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

According to the lawsuit, Danone contends that if Chobani adhered to FDA serving-size standards, its yogurt would contain less than 18g of protein per serving, contrary to the advertised 20g. Danone argues that this puts Chobani's products in direct competition with its own Oikos Pro line, which genuinely offers 20g of protein per standard 5.3oz serving.

The complaint further states that the actual protein content in Chobani's products would be comparable to Danone's Oikos Triple Zero range, which offers between 15g and 18g of protein per serving but at a lower price point. Danone claims that creating dairy products with such high protein density is "difficult and costly," suggesting that Chobani has instead opted to increase the labeled serving size without boosting the actual yogurt content.

Danone is seeking unspecified damages and a revision of Chobani's labeling practices. The lawsuit is part of ongoing competitive tensions between the two companies. Last year, Danone also filed a lawsuit against Chobani regarding its cold brew coffee branding, accusing it of copying the tagline and packaging of one of Danone's popular products.

Both Danone and Chobani have been approached for comments regarding the current litigation.