Legal Battle Over Dairy Practices and Animal Welfare at Fairlife

A recent federal lawsuit has been filed against Fairlife and its parent company, Coca-Cola, concerning alleged animal mistreatment at the Woodcrest Dairy in southeastern New Mexico. The lawsuit suggests that milk from this dairy, known for its alleged mistreatment of cows, made its way into the Fairlife supply chain. However, both Fairlife and Coca-Cola have denied these claims, maintaining that Woodcrest was not a supplier during the relevant period.

In 2022, Fairlife and Coca-Cola settled a class-action lawsuit for $21 million, which accused the companies of misleading consumers about animal welfare practices. As part of the settlement, they agreed to adopt animal welfare standards and undergo third-party audits, despite denying any wrongdoing.

According to livestock records, thousands of cows from Woodcrest Dairy were redistributed to other dairies within the Select Milk Producers cooperative network. Select Milk Producers, which helped establish Fairlife before it was fully acquired by Coca-Cola in 2020, is currently disputing claims that Woodcrest supplied milk to Fairlife during the alleged mistreatment period.

The Chaves County Sheriff's Office has referred the matter to the New Mexico Livestock Board for investigation. The Board has stated that proving extreme animal cruelty can be challenging, especially when evidence surfaces after the fact.

Despite some claims being dismissed, the court has allowed others related to Fairlife’s branding to proceed, giving plaintiffs the opportunity to amend their complaint. This ongoing legal battle raises questions about the traceability of milk marketed as humanely sourced and the accountability of dairy supply chains.