Ben & Jerry's Fudging The Truth, Says CSPI; Nothing 'All Natural' About Artificial Ingredients

US Newswire ^ | July 30, 2002

[Reaganwuzthebest]

WASHINGTON, July 30 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Ben & Jerry's misleads customers by falsely claiming that some of its ice cream and frozen yogurt products are "All Natural," when they contain artificial flavors, hydrogenated oils, or other factory-made substances, according to a complaint filed today by the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). The group wants the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take enforcement action against the company, a unit of the multinational food conglomerate Unilever.

"Ben & Jerry's enjoys a carefully-cultivated public image as an eco-friendly, worker-friendly brand -- the kind of company whose label claims should be truthful," CSPI executive director Michael F. Jacobson said. "So it's sad that Ben & Jerry's is trying to pass off products laden with these factory-spun ingredients as 'natural,' when there's little natural about them. These ingredients are man-made and simply don't occur in nature."

The label for Ben & Jerry's "Everything But The ..." ice cream states "all natural." But the small print in the ingredient list lists artificial flavors--an outright violation of the FDA's rules.

Other Ben & Jerry's products, like "Chocolate Fudge Brownie Low Fat Frozen Yogurt," include man-made ingredients like partially hydrogenated soybean oil, corn syrup, corn syrup solids, and alkalized cocoa powder. Use of the term "all natural"--and the implication that the product might be more healthful than another product--is especially misleading in the case of a hydrogenated oil, which likely contains heart-damaging trans fat, according to the complaint.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

Other Ben & Jerry's products, like "Chocolate Fudge Brownie Low Fat Frozen Yogurt," include man-made ingredients like partially hydrogenated soybean oil, corn syrup, corn syrup solids, and alkalized cocoa powder.

You mean it's not the real thing? Wow, had me fooled.

[FreeperinRATcage]

Let's not forget the other reason to boycott Ben and Jerry's!

The finacial support lended to the convicted cop killer Mumia is reason enough to want the whole company togo down the toilet.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Par for the course for two supporters of cop killer Mumia Abu Jamal.

[ErnBatavia]

Let's not forget the other reason to boycott Ben and Jerry's!

Amen! I've always referred to their stores as "Ben and Jerry's Communist Ice Cream Stores" and have yet to darken their little doorways.

[ECM]

Is that true? Cause if it is, I've eaten my last pint of B&J...I'll miss peanut butter cup, though.

[fineright]

ok.........

[alnick]

man-made ingredients like partially hydrogenated soybean oil, corn syrup, corn syrup solids, and alkalized cocoa powder.

Soybeans, corn, and cocoa are not man-made.

[The Other Harry]

This is one outfit that should be nailed to the wall.

It would have been much better to have nailed them before they sold out, but they're still a great nail.

[aimhigh]

Liberals, lying to us again. Who would have thought??

[cinFLA]

They also state that there is no safe level for pesticides but there ice cream contains them!

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

Make your switch to Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake ice cream and you will never look back.

[CounterCounterCulture]

Betcha there's not one single piece of Jerry Garcia in the Cherry Garcia. FRAUD!

[Bella_Bru]

I love Chubby Hubby....

[muggs]

These ingredients are man-made and simply don't occur in nature."

Like ice cream occurs in nature. Does it grow on an ice cream tree?

[CounterCounterCulture]

Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake ice cream

You temptress you ;-)

[wardaddy]

Hippie Ice Cream Bums....screw 'em....send them to FDA hell.

[ECM]

That's true, but I don't recall tapping a corn stalk for corn syrup...

[The Other Harry]

Betcha there's not one single piece of Jerry Garcia in the Cherry Garcia. FRAUD!

They're not entirely fraudulent. Their new "Slick Willie" line is supposedly legit.