In a pivotal legal battle over deceptive marketing practices, the attorney representing a group of consumers has urged a federal judge to proceed with a class certification motion without waiting for a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on class certification standards. The case involves allegations that Whole Foods falsely advertises its beef as free from antibiotics, with the plaintiffs asserting that all buyers were financially harmed by overpaying for products marketed as antibiotic-free.
At a hearing on Tuesday before U.S. District Judge John W. Holcomb, attorney Taeva C. Shefler of Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP, representing the proposed class, argued that all members of the class suffered financial injury. Shefler emphasized that consumers were misled by Whole Foods’ “No antibiotics, ever” slogan, resulting in inflated prices for beef that did not meet the advertised standards. Shefler strongly contended that the proposed class members were harmed by deceptive marketing, regardless of whether they knowingly purchased meat containing antibiotics.
Judge Holcomb expressed concerns about the potential inclusion of uninjured members in the class. Specifically, he questioned whether some consumers might not be concerned about antibiotics in their beef and thus might not have been injured. In response, Shefler asserted that the deceptive marketing had led to overpayment for all beef purchases, regardless of individual awareness. “100 percent of the class members purchased at an inflated price because of a promise that was not kept by Whole Foods,” Shefler argued.
The lawsuit, initially filed in 2022 and amended multiple times, claims that Whole Foods’ marketing misrepresents its beef as antibiotic-free. The plaintiffs point to findings from Farm Forward, an organization dedicated to ending factory farming, which discovered antibiotic residue in beef labeled as “organic” and “antibiotic free.” Further supporting the allegations, a recent study revealed that many cattle in the Animal Welfare Certified program had received routine antibiotic treatments.
The plaintiffs contend that consumers are willing to pay a premium for antibiotic-free meat, often up to 20% more than conventional beef. They argue that the deceptive practices led to overpayments by Whole Foods customers.
In related news, the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule on whether class certifications can include uninjured members in the case of Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings v. Luke Davis et al. This decision could have significant implications for the Whole Foods case, as it addresses whether class members must show proof of injury to qualify for inclusion.
Despite the pending ruling, Judge Holcomb did not issue a decision on the motion for class certification during the hearing. He also sought clarification on the potential for classwide damages, given that the case involves various types of beef products sold by Whole Foods. Shefler maintained that a damages model supported by expert testimony could demonstrate the financial harm caused to the class.
Whole Foods’ legal team, represented by Brian R. Blackman of Blaxter Blackman LLP, also argued against delaying the motion based on the Supreme Court case. Blackman emphasized that the Ninth Circuit’s existing law allows for class certifications that may include individuals who are not injured, provided that the majority of the class has been harmed.
