text:
Hohenberg v. Ferrero USA, Inc
Filing 45
First AMENDED COMPLAINT with Jury Demandagainst Ferrero USA, Inc, filed by Athena Hohenberg, Laura Rude-Barbato. (Fitzgerald, John) Emailed attorney to file a proof of service (ag).
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 LAW OFFICES OF RONALD A. MARRON, APLC RONALD A. MARRON (175650) 3636 4th Avenue, Suite 202 San Diego, California 92103 Telephone: (619) 696-9006 Facsimile: (619) 564-6665 firstname.lastname@example.com THE WESTON FIRM GREGORY S. WESTON (239944) JACK FITZGERALD (257370) MELANIE PERSINGER (275423) 888 Turquoise Street San Diego, CA 92109 Telephone: (858) 488-1672 Facsimile: (480) 247-4553 firstname.lastname@example.com email@example.com firstname.lastname@example.com INTERIM CLASS COUNSEL UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 14 15 16 CASE NO. 3:11-CV-00205-H-CAB CLASS ACTION IN RE FERRERO LITIGATION 17 JUDGE: Hon. Marilyn L. Huff 18 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT AGAINST DEFENDANT FERRERO U.S.A., INC. FOR VIOLATIONS OF: 19 20 21 UNFAIR COMPETITION (BUS. & PROF. CODE §§ 17200); 22 FALSE ADVERTISING LAW (BUS. & PROF. CODE § 17500); 23 CONSUMER LEGAL REMEDIES ACT (CIV. CODE §§ 1750); 24 25 BREACH OF EXPRESS WARRANTY; AND 26 BREACH OF IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY 27 DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL 28 1 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT 1 Plaintiffs Athena Hohenberg and Laura Rude-Barbato, by their attorneys, for their First 2 Amended Master Consolidated Complaint against Defendant FERRERO U.S.A., INC. ("Ferrero" or 3 "Defendant") allege, upon information and belief, as follows: 4 PRELIMINARY STATEMENT 5 1. This First Amended Master Consolidate Compliant ("Complaint") is filed pursuant to the 6 Order of this Court, dated June 30, 2011, and presents all claims brought against Defendant in the 7 separate cases consolidated hereunder. 8 INTRODUCTION 9 2. Nutella® is a purported "hazelnut spread" comprised primarily of sugar and oil. The 10 spread was once described as "a loophole in breakfast laws that allows you to put chocolate icing on your 11 toast." It was invented in Italy in the 1940s by Pietro Ferrero, a pastry maker. It has long been available 12 and enjoyed in Europe, and was first imported into the United States in 1983, where it has slowly gained 13 in popularity. It is distributed elsewhere throughout the world, for example in Australia. 14 3. For many years, Ferrero has been running television and print ads, primarily in Europe, 15 suggesting Nutella® is nutritious, an appropriate breakfast food, and that it promotes children's healthy 16 growth and development. 17 4. These advertisements have long been criticized, and Ferrero has come under fire for 18 misleading consumers in this exact fashion elsewhere. In 2008, for example, after the U.K.'s Advertising 19 Standards Authority received dozens of complaints about a Ferrero commercial showing mothers giving 20 children Nutella® on toast with a voiceover saying it could be part of a "balanced breakfast." The ASA 21 ruled the commercial, by creating "the overall impression that Nutella® made a significant contribution 22 to a balanced breakfast," in fact "misleadingly implied the spread made a more significant 23 contribution to a balanced breakfast than was the case." As a result, the ASA pulled the commercial. 1 24 5. On or about June 16 2010, the European Parliament approved a draft measure requiring 25 all processed foods to clearly label fat, salt, and sugar contents, aimed at fighting obesity and giving 26 consumers more informed choices. 27 1 28 See, Sweeny, Marc, "Nutella® ad banned over health claims," The Guardian, Feb. 27, 2008, at http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/feb/27/asa.advertising1. 2 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT 1 6. In reaction to the measure, Ferrero International began a campaign dubbed "Hands off 2 Nutella." Ferreo's vice-president Paolo Fulci called the labeling measure a "straightjacket," claiming that 3 by affecting Nutella's® advertising, the measure would dampen "the most healthy and genuine 4 pleasures," "lead to curbs on even the most private behavior," and "affect the most intimate aspects of 5 private life." 6 7. Despite censure in Europe, Ferrero has invaded the United States with the same 7 misleading advertising strategies, played out on the labels of Nutella®, in television commercials and 8 print ads, on the web and elsewhere, designed to and effective in persuading American consumers that 9 Nutella® is an appropriate breakfast food, and a healthy alternative to things like jelly and syrup. 10 8. These labels, advertisements, websites and commercials are so deceptive because 11 Nutella®, far from being nutritious and part of a "balanced breakfast," in fact contains about 70% 12 saturated fat and highly processed sugar by weight. Worse, during much of the Class Period, Nutella® 13 was made with partially hydrogenated vegetable oil ("PHVO"), and therefore contained toxic artificial 14 trans fat. As described herein, these substances contribute significantly to a number of serious diseases, 15 and cause thousands of otherwise preventable deaths each year. 16 9. After being exposed to Ferrero's long-term misleading advertising campaign described 17 herein, and in reliance on various Ferrero statements, Plaintiffs purchased Nutella® throughout the Class 18 Period defined herein for their own and household use. Having become aware of the true nature of 19 Nutella®, and Ferrero's misleading tactics complained of herein, Plaintiffs seek, on behalf of themselves 20 and all others similarly situated, the remedies prayed for herein. 21 22 THE PARTIES 10. Plaintiff Athena Hohenberg is and was at all relevant times herein, a resident of the 23 County of San Diego, in California, who purchased Nutella® during the Class Period defined herein, for 24 herself and her four-year-old child, because she sought a healthy snack or breakfast alternative for her 25 household. 26 11. Plaintiff Laura Rude-Barbato is and was at all relevant times herein, a resident of the 27 County of San Diego, in California, who purchased Nutella® during the Class Period defined herein, for 28 herself and household use. 3 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT 1 2 3 12. Defendant Ferrero U.S.A, Inc. is and was at all relevant times herein, a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business in New Jersey. 13. Ferrero is part of the Ferrero Group, and the American subsidiary of the Italy-based 4 Ferrero International. Ferrero is and was at all relevant times admitted to do and does conduct 5 business within the State of California, the County of San Diego, and this judicial district under the 6 laws of the State of California. 7 8 14. Ferrero and its affiliated companies, directly or through intermediaries, manufacture, distribute and sell Nutella®. 9 15. Sales of Nutella® in California are greater than in any other single state in the nation. 10 16. Nutella® sold in the United States has been manufactured by Ferrero affiliate Ferrero 11 Canada, Inc., entirely in an 85,000 square meter factory in Brantford, Ontario, Canada, since at least 12 2006. The Brantford factory employs a permanent workforce of over 1,000 employees. 13 17. In March 2010, Ferrero announced it was expanding its Brantford, Ontario manufacturing 14 facilities to produce more Nutella, which is Ferrero's fastest-growing product in the U.S., ramping up its 15 production from the 46,000 tons of Ferrero products it previously manufactured. 16 18. Since at least 2006, Ferrero's Toronto, Ontario headquarters, and its Brantford, Ontario 17 factory, have been the primary location for Ferrero's administration and decisions concerning the 18 mixture, formulation, advertising, marketing, and sale of Nucoa sold in the United States. 19 19. Whenever the Complaint refers to any act or acts of Defendant, the references shall 20 include the directors, officers, employees, affiliates, or agents of Defendant who authorized such act 21 while engaged in the management, direction, or control of the affairs of Defendant. 22 20. Plaintiffs have incurred and, during the pendency of this action, will incur expenses for 23 attorneys' fees and costs herein. Such attorneys' fees and costs are necessary for the prosecution of 24 this action and will result in a benefit to each of the members of the class. 25 26 JURISDICTION AND VENUE 21. This Court has original jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1332(d)(2) (The Class Action 27 Fairness Act) because the matter in controversy exceeds the sum or value of $5,000,000, exclusive of 28 interest and costs, and there are numerous members of the class that are citizens of a state other than 4 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT 1 2 the state of which Defendant is a citizen. 22. This Court has personal jurisdiction over Defendant, because it has, at all relevant 3 times, been operating or conducting business throughout the state of California and within this judicial 4 district. 5 23. Venue is proper in this Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b)(2) because many of the 6 acts and transactions, including the purchases and sales giving rise to this action, occurred in this 7 district, Defendant is authorized to conduct business in this district, and has intentionally availed itself 8 of the laws and markets of this district through promotion, marketing, distribution, and sale of its 9 products in this district. 10 11 FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS 24. Plaintiffs repeatedly purchased Nutella® in California during the Class Period defined 12 herein. Nutella®, manufactured and sold by Ferrero, is sold as a "hazelnut spread" but is really 13 comprised mostly of sugar and oil. 14 25. Nutella® contains dangerous levels of saturated fat, the consumption of which has 15 been shown to cause heart disease and other serious health problems. Nutella® also contains over 16 55% processed sugar, the consumption of which has been shown to cause type-2 diabetes and other 17 serious health problems. In short, Nutella® is not a "healthy" or "nutritious" product to consume. 18 26. Plaintiff Hohenberg has a four-year-old child. At various times during the Class Period 19 beginning in 2009, Ms. Hohenberg purchased Nutella® from the San Diego NB Commissary, located 20 at 2525 Callagan Hwy, Building 3629, San Diego, CA 92136, after being exposed to, understanding, 21 and relying upon advertisements and representations by Defendant that Nutella® is a "healthy 22 breakfast" and is "nutritious." For example, in addition to Nutella's® label, Ms. Hohenberg saw 23 television advertisements where the "mom" is feeding Nutella® to her children while extoling its 24 virtues as breakfast food, as further detailed herein. 25 27. In purchasing Nutella®, Ms. Hohenberg was searching for healthy foods to serve her 26 family because she is aware that healthy nutrition is important for maintaining the overall health of her 27 family. Ms. Hohenberg trusted the representations made by Ferrero in its labeling Nutella®, "An 28 example of a tasty yet balanced breakfast," in association with a picture showing fresh fruits, whole 5 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT 1 wheat bread, and orange juice. Ms. Hohenberg believed based in part on this representation that 2 Nutella® was part of a healthy meal. 3 28. In or around December 2010, Ms. Hohenberg was surprised and upset to learn that 4 Nutella® was in fact not a "healthy" "nutritious" food but instead a product with the nutritional 5 properties of a candy bar, with very high levels of refined sugar and saturated fat. Ms. Hohenberg felt 6 betrayed that the makers of Nutella® misleadingly represented that their product was nutritious and 7 omitted that the claimed nutritional value was not in fact derived from Nutella® itself but from other 8 foods, such as whole-wheat toast, which potentially could be consumed along with Nutella®. Had 9 Ms. Hohenberg known the truth about Nutella's® qualities, she would not have purchased it for her 10 11 family. 29. Plaintiff Rude-Barbato has a seven-year-old child. At various times during the Class 12 Period beginning in 2010, Ms. Rude-Barbato purchased Nutella® after being exposed to, 13 understanding, and relying upon television advertisements and representations by Defendant that 14 Nutella® is a "healthy breakfast" and is "nutritious." For example, in addition to Nutella's® label, 15 Ms. Rude-Barbato saw television advertisements suggesting Nutella® was a healthy choice, which 16 included images of young children being fed Nutella®, as further described herein. 17 30. Beginning in approximately July 2010, Ms. Rude-Barbato purchased Nutella® from a 18 Vons grocery store in San Diego, and later from CostCo in San Diego, even though it costs more than 19 traditional peanut butter spread, because she thought it was a healthier choice for her active and 20 athletic sons, including her young 7-year old son. 21 31. In purchasing Nutella®, Ms. Rude-Barbato was searching for healthy foods to serve 22 her household for breakfast or a snack. Ms. Rude-Barbato trusted Ferrero's representations made in 23 labeling Nutella®, "An example of a tasty yet balanced breakfast," in association with a picture 24 showing fresh fruits, whole wheat bread, and orange juice. Ms. Rude-Barbato believed, based in part 25 on this representation, that Nutella® was part of a healthy meal. 26 32. In or around February 2011, Ms. Rude-Barbato learned what ingredients were in the 27 Nutella® she was feeding her family. She was surprised and upset to find that Nutella® contains 28 dangerous levels of saturated fat and processed sugar. Ms. Rude-Barbato felt betrayed by the 6 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT 1 advertisements that lulled her into believing that Nutella® was healthy and nutritious. Had Ms. Rude- 2 Barbato known the truth about Nutella's® qualities, she would not have purchased it for her family. 3 33. Plaintiffs were also upset to learn, in connection with the pre-filing investigation in this 4 action, that, during the Class Period and until approximately August 2008, Nutella® was made with 5 PHVO and, therefore, artificial trans fat. 6 34. Plaintiffs seek an order compelling Ferrero to (1) cease marketing its products using 7 the misleading tactics complained of herein, (2) conduct a corrective advertising campaign, (3) restore 8 the amounts by which Ferrero was unjustly enriched, and (4) destroy all misleading and deceptive 9 materials and products. 10 THE SUBSTANTIAL POTENTIAL HEALTH DANGERS 11 CAUSED BY NUTELLA'S® INGREDIENTS 12 13 Saturated Fat 35. Ferrero falsely and misleadingly markets Nutella® as healthful although it contains 14 dangerous levels of saturated fat, which can increase the blood cholesterol levels in those who 15 consume it. Saturated fat is the main dietary cause of high blood cholesterol. Moreover, high levels 16 of cholesterol can increase one's risk of a heart attack, stroke, and narrowed arteries (atherosclerosis). 17 18 19 20 36. The American Heart Association recommends limiting saturated fat intake to less than 7 percent of one's total daily calories. 37. The American Heart Association recommends the following daily calorie limits for children: 21 1 Year 2-3 Years 4-8 Years 9-13 Years 14-18 Years 22 900 1000 1200 (F), 1400 (M) 1600 (F), 1800 (M) 1800 (F), 2200 (M) 23 38. One serving of Nutella® (as determined by FDA regulations) is 2 level Tablespoons, 24 which contains 3.5 grams of saturated fat. Thus, for each age, the saturated fat in one of these small 25 servings of Nutella® contains the following percentage of the total recommended daily allowance for 26 saturated fat: 27 1 Year 2-3 Years 4-8 Years 9-13 Years 14-18 Years 28 50% 45% 37.5% (F), 32% (M) 28% (F), 25% (M) 25% (F), 20.5% (M) 7 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT 1 39. In sum, regardless of age, a single serving of Nutella® contributes a substantial portion of 2 children's total daily-recommended saturated fat, creating the high probability that the child will therefore 3 exceed his or her recommended daily allowance. 4 Highly-Processed Sugar 5 40. Nutella® contains approximately 20 grams of sugar per serving, the equivalent of five 6 teaspoons of sugar. The consumption of such staggering amounts of highly-processed sugar contributes 7 to both short-term and long-term problems, especially for developing children. 8 9 10 41. experience a sugar "high," during which they will tend to be hyperactive, and a subsequent "crash," or "low," during which they will be tired, moody, irritable, and even depressed. 11 12 In the short-term, the high sugar content of Nutella® leads children who consume it to 42. In the long-term, regular consumption of Nutella® could cause abnormal blood sugar levels and contribute to or exasperate type-2 diabetes and other related symptoms, such as obesity. 13 43. Almost immediately upon consuming Nutella®, the sugar in the spread is digested into 14 simple sugar and released into the blood stream. High levels of blood sugar are toxic to a number of 15 organs, so in response the body releases the hormone insulin to reduce blood sugar to a safe level. 16 When this process is repeated over time, cells that normally react to insulin and absorb excess blood 17 sugar become sensitized and partially resistant to insulin. This partial insulin resistance is variously 18 referred to as metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance syndrome, and pre-diabetes. Type-2 diabetes 19 eventually results. 20 Artificial Trans Fat 21 44. Artificial trans fat is a manufactured food product whose basic chemical structure is 22 different from natural fat molecules. Trans fat is naturally found in trace amounts in foods derived from 23 ruminant animals, primarily in cow's milk and read meat.2 Also known as, vaccenic acid, natural trans 24 fat has never been linked to any negative health effect in human beings and is chemically different from 25 artificial trans fat; initial studies on rats indicate that consumption of vaccenic acid is beneficial to health.3 26 2 27 Dariush Mozaffarian et al., Trans Fatty Acids and Cardiovascular Disease, 354 New Eng. J. Med. 1601, 1608 (2008). 3 28 Ye Wang et al., Trans-11 Vaccenic Acid Dietary Supplementation Induces Hypolipidemic Effects on JCR:LA-cp Rats, 138 J. Nutrition 2117 (November 2008). 8 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT 1 45. Artificial trans fat, by contrast, is manufactured via an industrial process called partial 2 hydrogenation, in which hydrogen atoms are added to normal vegetable oil by heating the oil to 3 temperatures above 400 degrees Fahrenheit in the presence of ion donor catalyst metals such as rhodium 4 ruthenium, or nickel.4 The resulting product is known as partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, or PHVO, 5 which is the main source of artificial trans fat in the American diet. 5 6 7 46. Class members through and until approximately August 2008. 8 9 10 PHVO was a major ingredient in Nutella® manufactured and distributed by Ferrero to 47. PHVO was invented in 1901 and patented in 1902 by German chemist Wilhelm Normann. PHVO molecules are chemically different from the natural fat molecules in other food products, as shown in the illustrations that follow. 11 48. Natural fat, except the trace amounts of natural trans fat from ruminant animals, comes in 12 two varieties: (1) fats that lack carbon double bonds ("saturated fat," Fig. 1) and (2) fats that have carbon 13 double bonds with the hydrogen atoms on the same side of the carbon chain ("cis fat," Fig. 2). Trans fat, 14 however, has hydrogen atoms on opposite sides of its double bonds, which significantly changes the 15 shape and properties of the molecule (Fig. 3). 16 17 FIGURE 1. 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 4 27 See Alice H. Lichtenstein, Trans Fatty Acids, Plasma Lipid Levels, and Risk of Developing Cardiovascular Disease, 95 Circulation 2588, 2588-90 (1997). 28 5 See Mozaffarian, 354 New Eng. J. Med. At 1608. 9 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT 1 FIGURE 2. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 FIGURE 3. 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 49. 22 PHVO was initially a "wonder product" attractive to the packaged food industry because 23 it combines the low cost of unsaturated cis fat with the flexibility and long shelf life of saturated fat. Like 24 cis fat, PHVO is manufactured from lower-cost legumes,6 while saturated fat is derived from relatively 25 expensive animal and tropical plant sources.7 26 27 6 e.g., corn oil, soybean oil, peanut oil 28 7 e.g., butter, cream, tallow, coconut oil 10 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT 1 50. The industrial process that adds hydrogen ions to normal vegetable oil improves food 2 texture and permits food products to withstand heavy mechanical processing and high temperatures.8 3 Given its versatility, PHVO was recently used in 40 percent of processed packaged foods.9 4 51. Artificial trans fat causes coronary heart disease, chronic systemic inflammation, 5 and atherosclerosis. In a joint Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Report, the U.S. Department of 6 Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture recognized "[t]he relationship 7 between trans fatty acid intake and LDL cholesterol is direct and progressive, increasing the risk of 8 cardiovascular disease."10 This "direct and progressive" relationship means even small amounts of 9 artificial trans fat increases LDL blood cholesterol levels and damages the cardiovascular system. 10 52. Food products with artificial trans fat harm the heart by "rais[ing] the concentration of the 11 most dangerous form of serum cholesterol (LDL cholesterol)" and "lower[ing] a protective form of 12 serum cholesterol (HDL cholesterol)."11 13 53. The American Heart Association notes "trans fats raise your bad (LDL) cholesterol 14 levels and lower your good (HDL) cholesterol levels. Eating Trans fats increases your risk of 15 developing heart disease."12 16 17 54. After an extensive evaluation of the scientific literature on the trans fat/Coronary Heart Disease ("CHD") connection, the FDA concluded: 18 [B]ased on the consistent results across a number of the most persuasive types of study designs (i.e., intervention trials and prospective cohort studies) 19 20 8 21 22 23 See Alberto Ascherio et al., Trans Fatty Acids & Coronary Heart Disease, 340 New Eng. J. Med. 94, 94-8 (1999). See also Ctr. For Food Safety & Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food & Drug Admin., Questions & Answers About Trans Fat Nutrition Labeling (Update 2006) (2003), available at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/%7Edms/quatrans2.html. 9 24 Mary Charmichael, The Skinny on Bad Fat, Newsweek, Dec. 1, 2003 at 66. See also Kim Severson, Hidden Killer. It's TransFat. It's Dangerous. And It's In Food You Eat Every Day, S.F. Chron., Jan. 30, 2002. 25 10 26 Dept's of Health & Human Serv. & U.S. Dep't of Agric., 2005 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Report, Section 10 (2005). 11 27 28 Id. 12 Am. Heart Ass'n., Trans Fat athttp://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3045792. 11 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT Overview, available that were conducted using a range of test conditions and across different geographical regions and populations . . . the available evidence for an adverse relationship between trans fat intake and CHD risk is strong. 13 1 2 3 55. Trans fat raises the risk of CHD more than any other known nutritive product. 14 4 56. Removing 2% of daily calories from trans fat from the American diet "would prevent 5 approximately 30,000 premature coronary deaths per year, and epidemiologic evidence suggests this 6 number is closer to 100,000 premature deaths annually." 15 7 57. 8 A study on the impact of trans fatty acids on heart health provides evidence that: [E]ven the lower estimates from the effects [of PHVO] on blood lipids would suggest that more than 30,000 deaths per year may be due to the consumption of partially hydrogenated vegetable fat. Furthermore, the number of attributable cases of nonfatal coronary heart disease will be even larger. 16 9 10 11 58. Artificial trans fat further damages the heart and other vital organs by causing chronic 12 systemic inflammation, where the immune system becomes persistently overactive, damages cells, and 13 causes organ dysfunction.17 14 59. In June 2009, scientists found that mice fed a controlled diet "did not exhibit appreciable 15 atherosclerotic plaque formation," but adding trans fat to their diet stimulated atherosclerotic 16 development on its own, "which is an even not normally observed in [mice]." Further, "the higher the 17 circulating [trans fat] was, the more extensive were the atherosclerotic lesions," thus showing trans fat 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 13 Ctr. For Food Safety & Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food & Drug Admin., Questions & Answers About Trans Fat Nutrition Labeling. 14 Mozaffarian, 354 New Eng. J. Med. At 1603. 15 Alberto Ascherio et al., Trans Fatty Acids & Coronary Heart Disease, 340 New Eng. J. Med 94, 94-8 (1999). 16 W.C. Willett et al., Trans Fatty Acids: Are the Effects Only Marginal?84 Am. J. Pub. Health 722, 723 (1994). 17 25 26 27 28 See Lopez-Garcia et al., Consumption of Trans Fat is Related to Plasma Markers of Inflammation and Endothelial Dysfunction, 135 J. of Nutr. 562-66 (2005); see also Baer et al., Dietary fatty acids affect plasma markers of inflammation in healthy men fed controlled diets: a randomized crossover study, 79 Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 969-73 (2004); Mozaffarian & Clarke, Quantitative effects on cardiovascular risk factors and coronary heart disease risk of replacing partially hydrogenated vegetable oils with other fats and oils, 63 Euro J. of Clin. Nutr. S22-S33 (2009); Mozaffarian et al., Trans fatty acids and systemic inflammation in heart failure, 80 Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 1521-25 (2004). 12 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT 1 consumption "can directly induce atherosclerosis."18 2 60. Artificial trans fat causes type-2 diabetes19 and diabetes-induced cognitive decline. 3 In particular, trans fat disrupts the body's glucose and insulin regulation system by incorporating itself 4 into cell membranes, causing the insulin receptors present on cell walls to malfunction, elevating blood 5 glucose levels and stimulating further release of insulin. Researchers at Northwestern University's 6 medical school found mice show multiple markers of type-2 diabetes after eating a trans fat diet for only 7 four weeks. By the eighth week of the study, mice fed the diet high in trans fat showed a 500% increase 8 compared to the control group in hepatic interleukin-1β gene expression, indicating the extreme stress 9 Trans fat places on the body. 20 10 61. A 14-year study of 84,204 women found that for every 2 percent increase in energy intake 11 from trans fat, the relative risk of type 2 diabetes was 1.39. In other words, each 2 percent of calories 12 from artificial trans fat increases the risk of type 2 diabetes by 39 percent.21 13 62. Further, in addition to causing type 2 diabetes, artificial trans fat also accelerates 14 diabetes-related health decline.22 Results are consistent with other studies showing trans fat causes 15 Alzheimer's disease, as "insulin resistance, high insulin levels, and cholesterol are all implicated in the β- 16 amyloid accumulation in the brain --- the pathologic hallmark of Alzheimer's disease."23 17 18 63. Artificial trans fat is a carcinogen and causes breast, prostate and colorectal cancer. A 13-year study of 19,934 French women showed 75 percent more women contracted breast cancer in 19 20 18 Am. Heart Ass'n., Trans Fat Overview. 21 19 Id. 22 20 23 24 25 26 27 28 Koppe et al., Trans fat feeding results in higher serum alanine aminotransferase and increased insulin resistance compared with a standard murine high-fat diet, 297 Am. J. Physiol. Gastrointestinal Liver Physiol. 1019, 1023 (2001). 21 Salmeron et al., Dietary Fat Intake and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Women, 73 Am. J. of Clinical Nutrition 1019, 1023 (2001). 22 See Devore et al., Dietary fat intake and cognitive decline in women with type 2 diabetes, 32 Diabetes Care 635-340 (2009). This study covered 1,486 participants and carefully controlled for body mass index, physical activity, diabetes severity, depression, vitamin E supplement use, alcohol intake, smoking status, and history of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or myocardial infarction. 23 Id at 693. 13 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT 1 the highest quintile of trans fat consumption than did those in the lowest.24 In a 25-year study of 14,916 2 U.S. physicians, the doctors in the highest quintile of trans fat intake had over a 100% greater risk of 3 developing prostate cancer than the doctors in the lowest quintile.25 A study of 1,012 American males 4 observing trans fat intake and the risk of prostate cancer found "[c]ompared with the lowest quartile of 5 total trans-fatty acid consumption, the higher quartiles gave odds ratios equal to 1.58," meaning those in 6 the highest quartile are 58% more likely to contract prostate cancer than those in the lowest.26 A 600- 7 person study found an 86 percent greater risk of colorectal cancer in the highest trans fat consumption 8 quartile.27 A 2,910-person study found "trans-monounsaturated fatty acids . . . were dose-dependently 9 associated with colorectal cancer risk," which showed "the importance of type of fat in the etiology and 10 prevention of colorectal cancer."28 11 12 64. The serious health conditions caused by trans fat consumption only occur from consuming artificial trans fat, not the trace natural trans fat (vaccenic acid) found in ruminant sources.29 13 65. The grave, concrete risks of artificial trans fat consumption far outweighed any 14 conceivable benefits of Ferrero's conduct. There is no health benefit to artificial trans fat consumption 15 and "no safe level" of artificial trans fat intake.30 According to the established consensus of the scientific 16 community, consumers should keep their consumption of trans fat "as low as possible."31 17 66. "[F]rom a nutritional standpoint, the consumption of trans fatty acids results in 18 19 20 21 24 Chajes et al., Association between Serum Trans-Monounsaturated Fatty Acids and Breast Cancer Risk in the E3N-EPIC Study, 167 Am. J. of Epidemiology 1312, 1316 (2008). 25 Chavarro et al., A Prospective Study of Blood Trans Fatty Acid Levels and Risk of Prostate Cancer., 47 Proc. Am. Assoc. of Cancer Research 95, 99 (2006). 26 22 Liu et al., Trans-Fatty Acid Intake and Increased Risk of Advanced Prostate Cancer: Modification by RNAseL R462Q Variant, 28 Carcinogenesis 1232, 1232 (2007). 23 27 24 25 26 Vinikoor et al., Consumption of Trans-Fatty Acid and its Association with Colorectal Adenomas, 168 Am. J. of Epidemiology 289, 294 (2008). 28 Theodoratou et al., Dietary Fatty Acids and Colorectal Cancer: A Case-Control Study, 166 Am. J. of Epidemiology (2007). 29 Mozaffarian, 354 New Eng. J. Med. at 1608-1609. 30 27 Food & Nutrition Bd., Inst. of Med., Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Protein, and Amino Acids (2005). 28 31 Id. 14 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT 1 considerable potential harm but no apparent benefit . . . ."32 2 67. Trans fat is so inherently dangerous that it is being banned in an increasing number 3 of American states and European countries. In 2008, California became the first state to ban all 4 restaurant food with artificial trans fat, a law affecting approximately 88,000 eating establishments. 5 Trans fats are now banned in California restaurants and schools as of January 1, 2011. New York City 6 banned all trans fat in its 20,000 food establishments in 2006. Similar laws exist in Philadelphia, 7 Baltimore, Stamford (CT), and Montgomery County (MD). A 2004 Danish law restricted all foods to 8 under 2 percent of calories from trans fat. Switzerland made the same restriction in 2008.33 In 2006, a 9 trans fat task force co-chaired by Health Canada and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada 10 recommended capping trans fat content at 2 percent of calories for tub margarines and spreads and 5 11 percent for all other foods. On September 30, 2009, British Columbia became the first province to impose 12 these rules on all restaurants, schools, hospitals, and special events.34 13 68. After conducting a surveillance study of Denmark's trans fat ban, researchers concluded 14 the change "did not appreciably affect the quality, cost or availability of food" and did not have "any 15 noticeable effect for the consumers."35 16 17 69. In approximately August 2008, Ferrero reformulated Nutella® to be made with (modified) palm oil, rather than PHVO.36 18 70. Thus, Ferrero's pre-2008 formulation of Nutella® (which Ferrero manufactured, 19 advertised as healthful, then distributed and sold to members of the Classes) contained a dangerous 20 ingredient that causes or exasperates type-2 diabetes, is associated with cognitive decline related to 21 22 32 Mozaffarian, 354 New Eng. J. Med. at 1608-1609. 33 23 Andrew Collier, Deadly fats: Why Are We still Eating Them?, The Independent (UK), June 10, 2008. 24 34 25 Province Restricts Trans Fat in B.C., British Columbia Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport Press Release (2009), available at http://ww2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2005-2009/2009HLS0013000315.htm. 26 35 27 36 28 Mozaffarian, 354 New Eng. J. Med. at 1610; see also High Levels of Industrially Produced Trans Fat in Popular Fast Food, 354 New Eng. J. Med. 1650, 1652 (2006). See LaRue Huget, Jennifer, "Nuts About Nutella®," Washington Post, Aug. 18, 2008, at http://voices.washingtonpost.com/checkup/2008/08/nuts_about_Nutella®.html. 15 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT 1 Alzheimer's disease, raises LDL cholesterol levels, lowers HDL cholesterol levels, inflames blood 2 vessels, causes heart disease and several types of cancer, and is now illegal in many cities, counties, and 3 nations, as well as the province of British Columbia and the state of California. Ferrero's addition of 4 artificial trans fats to Nutella® during the Class Period rendered it unfit for human consumption, and 5 rendered its concurrent advertisements, labels and representations that Nutella® was "healthy," 6 "nutritious," and part of a "balanced breakfast," particularly false, misleading and deceptive. 7 Modified Palm Oil 8 71. Ferrero's response to the global outcry against artificial trans fats was to do nothing more 9 than substitute modified palm oil, also implicated in causing heart disease and diabetes, and to institute a 10 widespread advertising and labeling campaign falsely and deceptively marketing Nutella® as a healthy, 11 wholesome food, part of a balanced breakfast, and particularly as being beneficial to children's 12 development and growth. 13 72. The use of modified palm oil involves a process called intersterification, the long-term 14 effects of which are not well understood. Some studies have suggested modified palm oil may have a 15 nearly identical effect on human LDL cholesterol levels as PHVO. 37 16 17 73. present in palm oil—to increased risk of cardiovascular disease.38 18 19 In addition, the World Health Organization has convincingly linked palmitic acid— 74. Nutella® also uses genetically modified soy lecithin, which has been genetically engineered and sprayed with pesticides, and is not healthy for children's growth and development. 20 PRODUCTS WITH WHICH NUTELLA® IS FAIRLY COMPARABLE 21 75. Although advertised as a "nutritious" "hazelnut spread" that is part of a "balanced 22 breakfast," Nutella® is in fact more comparable foods which decidedly are not breakfast foods, or 23 suitable to assist in the development and growth of children: 24 25 26 27 28 37 See "Palm Oil Not A Healthy Substitute For Trans Fats, Study Finds," Science News, May 11, 2009, at http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090502084827.htm (reprinted from materials provided by the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service). 38 See World Health Organization, "Diet, Nutrition and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases" (2003), at 81-82, available at http://www.who.int/hpr/NPH/docs/who_fao_expert_report.pdf. 16 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT Serving Size 1 Calories Calories from Fat Total Fat Saturated Fat Sugar Protein 2 Nutella® 2 tbsp. (37g) 200 100 11g 3.5g 21g 3g 3 Smucker's Hot Fudge Microwave Topping 2 tbsp. (39g) 130 35 3.5g 1g 17g 2g Hershey's Payday Peanut Caramel Bar 1 bar (52g) 240 120 13g 2.5g 21g 7g 4 5 6 7 8 FERRERO'S LONG-TERM, MULTI-MEDIA, DECEPTIVE ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN 9 76. Throughout the Class Period, Ferrero engaged in, and Plaintiffs and members of the 10 class were exposed to, a long-term advertising campaign in which Ferrero utilized various forms of 11 media, including, but not limited to, print advertising on the Nutella label and elsewhere, websites, 12 television commercials, physicians, and unpaid press coverage, to consistently convey the deceptive 13 and misleading message that Nutella is healthy, nutritious, part of a healthy meal, part of a balanced 14 meal, and/or beneficial for developing and growing children. 15 Nutella® Label 16 77. Deceptive product label: Ferrero deceptively labels Nutella® with the following 17 phrases: "Hazelnut Spread," "Start your day with Nutella® . . ." and "An example of a tasty yet 18 balanced breakfast: a glass of skim milk, orange juice and Nutella® on whole wheat bread," (in which 19 the words "tasty" and "balanced" are highlighted). The label of Nutella® also depicts this purportedly 20 "balanced" breakfast, showing fruit, a glass of orange juice, a glass of milk, a slice of bread covered in 21 Nutella®, and a jar of Nutella®. This montage is repeated elsewhere on the label. Nutella's® product 22 labels are deceptive because they falsely suggest that Nutella® is the key element that makes the 23 depicted breakfast "balanced" or nutritious when in fact it is the other food items such as milk, juice, 24 fruit and bread that provide the nutrients and healthy qualities that Nutella® is touting. 25 // 26 // 27 // 28 // 17 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Nutella® Website 15 78. Reference to false and misleading Nutella® website: The Nutella® label also 16 includes a link to a website showing pictures of a mother feeding Nutella® to happy, healthy children. 17 Several pages on the website link to information further deceptively suggesting Nutella® is healthy 18 and wholesome, and especially that it should be fed to children as part of a healthy breakfast. 19 // 20 // 21 // 22 // 23 // 24 // 25 // 26 // 27 // 28 // 18 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 79. For example, the page titled "About Nutella®" claims the product "contains quality 17 ingredients such as skim milk and a hint of cocoa," and when spread on whole wheat bread "is a good 18 combination for a balanced breakfast that the entire family will enjoy." The page further implies 19 Nutella® is healthy because it "contains no artificial colors or preservatives." 20 // 21 // 22 // 23 // 24 // 25 // 26 // 27 // 28 // 19 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT 1 // 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 80. This description includes links to "hazelnut," "skim milk," and "cocoa," which pop-up with windows that provide the following deceptive descriptions of the ingredients: 21 • Hazelnuts – "Hazelnuts have a flavorful combination of oils, vitamins and protein. Like other varieties of nuts, hazelnuts contain antioxidant compounds that protect your body overall." • Skim Milk – "Skim Milk is high in protein, vitamins and has less fat than whole milk." • Cocoa – "Cocoa is a very important ingredient in Nutella® because of its unique and incomparable flavor. The cocoa used gives Nutella® its chocolaty taste." 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 81. Ferrero's claim that Nutella® is a "Hazelnut Spread" and contains "Over 50 hazelnuts per 13 oz. Jar" but just a "hint of Cocoa" is also misleading because it implies that it has substantially 20 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT 1 more healthy ingredients (nuts) than unhealthy ones (chocolate), even though, according to the 2 ingredient list of Nutella®, hazelnuts and cocoa are the third and fourth ingredients, respectively. 3 (Sugar and palm oil make up the majority of Nutella®.) In fact, Nutella® contains only about 13% 4 hazelnuts and less than 7% skim milk, but 55% sugar. 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 82. On a portion of its website titled "Nutella® and Nutrition," Ferrero further implies 25 Nutella® is healthy by citing a 2005 article summarizing the results of studies that found eating 26 breakfast is good for kids. Ferrero then goes on to provide advice from "Connie Evers, M.S., R.D., a 27 registered dietitian and children's nutrition expert," including, "Create a meal of whole wheat toast or 28 a whole-grain toaster waffle with Nutella® hazelnut spread, a small bowl of sliced strawberries and a 21 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT 1 glass of 1% milk for a good mix of morning nutrients. When used in moderation with complementary 2 foods, Nutella® can form part of a balanced meal. It is a quick and easy way to encourage kids to eat 3 whole grains . . . . With the unique taste of Nutella®, kids may think they are eating a treat for 4 breakfast while moms are helping nourish their children with whole gains." 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 83. On a portion of its website titled "Tips for Moms," Ferrero further implies Nutella® is healthy and wholesome, especially for children, by conveying the purported advice expert Evers. 26 84. 27 to children. 28 // The advice Evers gives includes that Nutella® is the "best breakfast" that can be served 22 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 85. 20 Expert Evers further advises "A breakfast that consists of a small whole grain bagel 21 with Nutella®, 1/2 cup of slice strawberries and 1 cup of 1% milk is suitable for school-aged 22 children." Notably, Ms. Evers does not opine on how much Nutella® is "suitable" for children. 86. 23 Expert Evers further advises "Nutella® can form part of a balanced meal. You can start 24 your day with a genuine and tasty breakfast by spreading Nutella® hazelnut spread on a variety of 25 bakery goods, preferably whole wheat or multigrain bread. Add a glass of 1% milk and juice or fruit 26 to get the right fuel to start your day!" 27 // 28 // 23 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 87. Elsewhere on the page, expert Evers opines an "appropriate amount" of Nutella® to 20 serve children at breakfast is 1 tablespoon. This is half the standard Nutella® serving size of 2 21 tablespoons, and far less than the amount depicted in the various photographs and videos of children 22 eating Nutella® slathered on toast. 23 // 24 // 25 // 26 // 27 // 28 // 24 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT 1 88. Ferrero, through expert Evers, also represents that Nutella® "has a nutritional profile 2 that is comparable to other popular breakfast condiments, such as jellies and syrup." This claim is 3 false and deceptive, even according to Ferrero's own comparison: 4 Nutella® 5 Jelly Syrup Serving Size 1 Tablespoon 1 Tablespoon 1 Tablespoon Calories 100 56 53 8 Fat 5.5 g 0g 0g 9 Sugar 22 g 14 g 13 g 6 7 10 89. 11 Elsewhere on its websites, Ferrero states that it "recommend[s] that Nutella® is eaten 12 at breakfast" because it purportedly has a "low glycemic index," so that it "help[s] maintain energy 13 and concentration levels longer." This statement is false as Nutella's® very high sugar content renders 14 it a high glycemic index food. 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 // 25 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT 1 90. False and Misleading Television Commercials: During the Class Period, Ferrero also 2 broadcast television commercials (and recast those commercials on its website) portraying mothers 3 feeding Nutella® to happy, healthy children. 4 91. One such commercial for Nutella® aired during the Class Period is as follows: 5 6 [DOG BARKING, YOUNG BOY YELLING]: Mom! 7 [FRENZIED MOTHER]: Breakfast in this house? In the morning, I can use all the help I 8 can get. That's why I love Nutella®, a delicious hazelnut spread that's perfect on 9 multigrain toast and even whole wheat waffles. It's a quick and easy way to give my 10 family a breakfast they'll want to eat. And Nutella® is made with simple, quality 11 ingredients like hazelnuts, skim milk, and a hint of cocoa. They love the taste, and I feel 12 good that they're ready to tackle the day. Nutella® – breakfast never tasted this good. 13 14 92. Another commercial for Nutella® aired during the Class Period is as follows: 15 16 [FRENZIED MOTHER]: When it comes to getting my family to eat breakfast, I could use 17 all the help I can get. Like Nutella®, a delicious hazelnut spread that's perfect on 18 multigrain toast, even whole grain waffles, for a breakfast that my kids love, and I feel 19 good about serving. And Nutella® is made with simple, quality ingredients, like 20 hazelnuts, skim milk, and a hint of cocoa. It's quick, easy, and something everyone can 21 agree on. Nutella® – breakfast never tasted this good. 22 23 93. Another commercial for Nutella® aired during the Class Period is as follows: 24 25 [MOM]: As a mom, I'm a great believer in Nutella®, a delicious hazelnut spread that I use to 26 get my kids to eat healthy foods. I spread a little on all kinds of healthy things, like multigrain 27 toast. Every jar has wholesome, quality ingredients, like hazelnuts, skim milk, and a hint of 28 26 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT 1 delicious cocoa. And Nutella® has no artificial colors or preservatives. It's quick, it's easy, 2 and at breakfast I can use all the help I can get. 3 [VOICEOVER]: Nutella® – breakfast never tasted this good. 4 5 94. Each commercial includes depictions of the mother slathering Nutella® on toast and 6 feeding it to children, as well as text proclaiming that Nutella® does not have any artificial colors or 7 preservatives. 8 9 10 11 12 95. Moreover, each commercial, while touting the purportedly "simple" and "wholesome" ingredients in Nutella®, deceptively omits that the product is comprised mostly of sugar and oil. 96. Moreover, in the context of these commercials, Ferrero uses the word "simple" to falsely imply that Nutella® somehow differs from, and is healthier than, typical processed foods. 97. Omissions of material information: In the various representations complained of 13 herein, Ferrero deceptively omitted, throughout the Class Period, the actual content and ingredients of 14 Nutella®, including that it is comprised primarily of sugar and oil (and, during much of the period, 15 was made with PHVO and therefore contained dangerous artificial trans fat), and the association 16 between these ingredients and death, disease and other health issues, like childhood obesity. 17 98. Deceptive grocery categorization: Ferrero categorizes Nutella® in a manner that results 18 in the product typically being displayed in grocery stores alongside items like peanut butter, even though 19 the product has far more in common with cake icing. This is part and parcel of Ferreo's false and 20 deceptive "Hazelnut Spread" claim. 21 SUMMARY OF FERRERO'S MISLEADING MISREPRESENTATIONS, 22 OMISSIONS, AND FRAUDULENT ACTS 23 99. In sum, Ferrero has engineered a long-standing, pervasive and multi-faceted marketing 24 campaign focusing on the purported "nutritional" value of Nutella® as a breakfast food for children. 25 For instance, its ad campaign includes images and videos of wholesome families and happy, healthy 26 children enjoying Nutella® for breakfast before going to school. These claims are misleading because 27 Nutella® contains high levels of saturated fats, sugar, oil, artificial flavoring, and other objectionable 28 ingredients (and for much of the Class Period contained high levels of artificial trans fat), which harm 27 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT 1 2 the heart by raising blood cholesterol and blood sugar levels, a fact Ferrero deceptively omits. 100. Moreover, the nutritional value claimed, if any, is not derived from Nutella®, but 3 instead is dependent on whatever other foods or drinks (such as the whole grain bagel, 1/2 cup of 4 sliced strawberries and 1 cup of 1% milk) that are supposed to be consumed along with Nutella®. But 5 Nutella's® actual nutritional facts are comparable to other foods that are definitively not considered a 6 part of a "balanced" breakfast, like candy bars and cake icing. 7 101. Ferrero also made representations that consumption of Nutella® is especially beneficial 8 to children. Ferrero did and intended to convey with its statements and images that Nutella® is a 9 wholesome and healthful product, when in fact consuming Nutella® daily, a behavior Ferrero implies 10 through its advertising is healthful and not harmful, could create a substantial health risk, raise 11 cholesterol levels, cause disease, damage the heart, and increase the risk and severity of type-2 12 diabetes. Ferrero's encouragement of the daily consumption of Nutella® by children is especially 13 insidious because of the devastating effects on children's growth and health from high amounts of 14 saturated fat, sugar, and artificial trans fat. 15 102. Plaintiffs believed, based on representations complained of herein, both individually 16 and especially when taken together as a whole, that Nutella® consumption is healthful and beneficial 17 to children. Nutella®, however, contains about 70% saturated fat and processed sugar by weight, for 18 much of the Class Period was made with artificial trans fat, and is comprised of other objectionable 19 ingredients as described herein. These ingredients significantly contribute to America's alarming 20 increases in childhood obesity, which can lead to life-long health problems. Therefore, Nutella® is 21 decidedly not part of a nutritionally "balanced" breakfast for consumption by children as Defendant's 22 advertising deceptively suggests. 23 24 PLAINTIFFS' RELIANCE AND INJURY 103. When purchasing Nutella®, Plaintiffs were seeking, for themselves and their 25 households, a healthy snack or breakfast alternative, including a product that did not negatively affect 26 blood cholesterol levels or the health of Plaintiffs' or their families' cardiovascular systems, as well as 27 products made with natural, healthy ingredients. 28 104. Plaintiffs were exposed and Ferrero's long-term advertising campaign concerning the 28 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT 1 purported healthfulness of Nutella. They understood and relied upon Ferrero's misrepresentations for 2 each purchase of Nutella® made during the Class Period, including, for example, "moms are helping 3 nourish their children with whole grains," "A balanced breakfast is key to a great start each morning 4 for the entire family, especially for children," "An example of a tasty yet balanced breakfast," and 5 "Nutella® can form a part of a balanced meal." 6 105. For each purchase of Nutella® she made during the Class Period, Plaintiff Hohenberg 7 was exposed to, saw, read, understood, and relied upon Nutella's® label, as described herein. 8 Throughout the class period, Plaintiff Hohenberg further was exposed to, saw, heard, understood, and 9 relied upon various statements made about Nutella's® purported healthful qualities as part of 10 11 Ferrero's long-term advertising campaign. 106. For each purchase of Nutella® she made during the Class Period, Plaintiff Rude- 12 Barbato was exposed to, saw, read, understood and relied upon Nutella's® label, as described herein. 13 Throughout the class period, Plaintiff Rude-Barbato further was exposed to, saw, heard, understood, 14 and relied upon various statements made about Nutella's® purported healthful qualities as part of 15 Ferrero's long-term advertising campaign. 16 107. Plaintiffs purchased Nutella® believing it had the qualities they sought based on its 17 deceptive advertising and Ferrero's misrepresentations and omissions, but the product was actually 18 unsatisfactory to them for the reasons described herein. 19 108. Nutella® costs more than similar products without misleading advertisements and 20 misrepresentations, and would have costs less absent the false and misleading statements and material 21 omissions described herein. 22 109. Plaintiffs and members of the Classes paid more for Nutella®, and would have been 23 willing to pay less, if anything at all, had they not been mislead by the false and misleading 24 advertisements, misrepresentations and omissions complained of herein. Plaintiffs and members of the 25 Classes would not have purchased Nutella® at the prices they did, or would not have purchased 26 Nutella® at all, absent Defendant's false and misleading advertisements and misrepresentations. 27 28 110. For these reasons, Nutella® was worth less than what Plaintiffs and members of the Classes paid for them. 29 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT 1 2 3 111. Plaintiffs and members of the Classes purchased Nutella® instead of competing products based on the false statements, misrepresentations and omissions described herein. 112. Instead of receiving products that have the advantages inherent in being free of high 4 levels of saturated fat, sugar, artificial trans fat, artificial flavoring, and other objectionable 5 ingredients, and comprised of natural, healthy ingredients, Plaintiffs and members of the Classes 6 received products that were comprised of highly-refined, highly-processed, and nutritionally empty 7 ingredients, with dangerous levels of saturated fat, sugar, artificial trans fat, and other objectionable 8 ingredients. 9 113. 10 11 12 Plaintiffs and members of the Classes lost money as a result of Ferrero's deception in that they did not receive what they paid for. 114. Plaintiffs and members of the Classes altered their position to their detriment and suffered damages in an amount equal to the amount they paid for Nutella®. 13 14 DELAYED DISCOVERY 115. Plaintiffs were reasonably diligent consumers looking for products for themselves and 15 their family households that were generally healthy and nutritious. Nevertheless, Plaintiffs did not 16 discover that Ferrero's labeling of Nutella® was false, deceptive, or misleading until December 2010 17 (Plaintiff Hohenberg) and February 2011 (Plaintiff Rude-Barbaro). 18 19 20 116. Plaintiffs were unaware of the grave health consequences of consuming products like Nutella® before that time. 117. Plaintiffs are not nutritionists, food experts, or food scientists; they are lay consumers 21 who did not possess the specialized knowledge Ferrero had which otherwise would have enabled them 22 to associate high levels of saturated fat and refined sugar with disease. 23 118. Plaintiffs, in the exercise of reasonable diligence, could not have discovered Ferrero's 24 deceptive practices earlier because, like nearly all consumers, they do not read scholarly publications 25 or other materials describing the negative impact of consuming foods high in saturated fat, refined 26 sugars, and trans fatty acids. 27 28 CLASS ACTION ALLEGATIONS 119. Plaintiffs bring this action on behalf of themselves and the following Classes in 30 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT 1 accordance with Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure: 2 A. Restitution Class - All persons (excluding officers, directors, and employees of Ferrero) who 3 purchased, on or after January 1, 2000 (the "Class Period"), one or more Nutella® products in 4 the United States for their own or household use rather than resale or distribution. 5 B. Injunctive Relief Class - All persons (excluding officers, directors, and employees of Ferrero) 6 who commonly purchase or are in the market for Nutella® in the United States for their own 7 or household use rather than resale or distribution. 8 120. 9 Questions of law and fact common to Plaintiffs and the Classes include: a. Whether Ferrero contributed to, committed, and/or is responsible for the conduct 10 alleged herein; 11 b. Whether Ferrero's conduct constitutes the violations of laws alleged herein; 12 c. Whether Ferrero acted willfully, recklessly, negligently, or with gross negligence in 13 the violations of law alleged herein; 14 d. Whether Class Members are entitled to injunctive relief; and 15 e. Whether Class Members are entitled to restitution. 16 17 18 19 20 121. By purchasing and/or using Nutella®, all members of the Classes were subjected to the same wrongful conduct. 122. Absent Ferrero's material deceptions, misstatements, and omissions, Plaintiffs and other members of the Classes would not have purchased Nutella®. 123. Plaintiffs' claims are typical of the Classes' claims. Plaintiffs will fairly and 21 adequately protect the interests of the Classes, have no interests that are incompatible with the 22 interests of the Classes, and have retained counsel competent and experienced in class litigation. 23 24 25 124. The Classes are sufficiently numerous, as they include at least hundreds of thousands of individuals who purchased Nutella® throughout the United States during the Class Period. 125. Class representation is superior to other options for the resolution of the controversy. 26 The relief sought for each Class member is small. Absent the availability of class action procedures, it 27 would be infeasible for Class members to redress the wrongs done to them. 28 126. Ferrero has acted on grounds applicable to the Classes, thereby making appropriate 31 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT 1 2 3 4 final injunctive relief or declaratory relief concerning the Classes as a whole. 127. Questions of law and fact common to the Classes predominate over any questions affecting only individual members. 128. Class treatment is appropriate under FRCP 23(a) and both 23(b)(2) and 23(b)(3). 5 Plaintiffs do not contemplate class notice if the classes are certified under FRCP 23(b )(2), which does 6 not require notice, and notice via publication if the classes are certified under FRCP 23(b)(3) or if the 7 Court determines class notice is required notwithstanding that notice is not required under FRCP 8 23(b)(2). Plaintiffs will, if notice is required, confer with Defendant and seek to present the Court 9 with a stipulation and proposed order on the details of a class notice plan. 10 FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION 11 Violations of the California Unfair Competition Law, 12 Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 17200 et seq. 13 (Unlawful) 14 129. 15 forth in full herein. 16 130. 17 18 Plaintiffs reallege and incorporate the allegations elsewhere in the Complaint as if set Bus. & Prof. Code § 17200 prohibits any "unlawful, unfair or fraudulent business act or practice." 131. The acts, omissions, misrepresentations, practices, and non-disclosures of Ferrero as 19 alleged herein constitute "unlawful" business acts and practices in that Ferrero's conduct violates the 20 False Advertising Law and the Consumer Legal Remedies Act. 21 22 23 24 25 26 132. Ferrero's conduct is further "unlawful" because it violates the following provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ("FFDCA") and its implementing regulations: a. 21 U.S.C. § 343(a), which deems food misbranded when the label contains a statement that is "false or misleading in any particular;" b. 21 C.F.R. § 10 1.13(i)(3), which bars nutrient content claims voluntarily placed on the front of a product label that are "false or misleading in any respect"; 27 c. 21 C.F.R. § 101.14(d)(2)(ii)-(iii), in that Ferrero's claims concerning the supposed 28 benefits of Nutella® to health are not limited to describing the value that ingesting the 32 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT 1 substance may have on a particular health related condition, and further because they are 2 not complete, not truthful, and highly misleading; and 3 d. 21 C.F.R. § 1.21, which prohibits true statements about ingredients that are misleading in 4 light of the presence of other ingredients. 5 133. Ferrero's conduct also violates the California Sherman Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Law 6 ("Sherman Law"), at, inter alia, (a) Health & Safety Code § 110660, which deems food products 7 "misbranded" if their labeling is "false or misleading in any particular," and (b) Health & Safety Code § 8 110670, which bars nutrient content and health claims voluntarily placed on the front of a product label 9 that fail to comply with the federal regulation for nutrient content and health claims. 10 11 134. Each of the challenged statements made by Ferrero, by violating the FFDCA and Sherman Law, further violate the "unlawful" prong of the UCL. 12 135. Ferrero's conduct also violates the California False Advertising Law and Consumer 13 Remedies Act, as further described herein, and for that reason further violates the UCL's "unlawful" 14 prong. 15 16 17 136. Ferrero leveraged its deception to induce Plaintiffs and members of the Classes to purchase products that were of lesser value and quality than advertised. 137. Plaintiffs and members of the Classes suffered injury in fact and lost money or property as 18 a result of Ferrero's deceptive advertising in that they were denied the benefit of the bargain when they 19 decided to purchase Nutella® over competitor products, which are less expensive and/or contain healthier 20 ingredients, or which do not claim, like Nutella®, to be healthy. Had Plaintiffs and members of the 21 Classes been aware of Ferrero's false and misleading advertising tactics, they would have paid less than 22 what they did for Nutella®, or not purchased the product at all. 23 138. In accordance with Bus. & Prof. Code § 17203, Plaintiffs seek an order enjoining Ferrero 24 from continuing to conduct business through unlawful, unfair, and/or fraudulent acts and practices and to 25 commence a corrective advertising campaign. 26 139. Plaintiffs also seek an order for the disgorgement and restitution of all monies from the 27 sale of Nutella®, which were unjustly acquired through acts of unlawful, unfair, and/or fraudulent 28 competition. 33 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT 1 SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION 2 Violations of the California Unfair Competition Law 3 Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 17200 et seq. 4 (Unfair and Fraudulent) 5 140. 6 forth in full herein. 7 141. 8 9 Plaintiffs reallege and incorporate the allegations elsewhere in the Complaint as if set Bus. & Prof. Code § 17200 prohibits any "unlawful, unfair or fraudulent business act or practice." 142. The false and misleading labeling of Nutella®, as alleged herein, constitutes "unfair" 10 business acts and practices because such conduct is immoral, unscrupulous, and offends public policy. 11 Further, the gravity of Ferrero's conduct outweighs any conceivable benefit of such conduct. 12 143. Defendant placed Nutella® into the stream of commerce with knowledge that, through the 13 intended use of such products, individuals, including young children, will be exposed to high and 14 dangerous levels of saturated fat, trans fat, highly-refined sugars, and other objectionable ingredients. 15 16 17 144. Defendant knew or should have known that high and dangerous levels of saturated fat, artificial fat, and sugar causes heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer and death. 145. The acts, omissions, misrepresentations, practices, and non-disclosures of Ferrero as 18 alleged herein constitute "fraudulent" business acts and practices because Ferrero's conduct is false and 19 misleading to Plaintiffs, members of the Classes, American consumers, and the general public. 20 146. Defendant's labeling and marketing of Nutella® using claims such as "balanced 21 nutrition," "moms are helping nourish their children with whole grains," "A balanced breakfast is key 22 to a great start each morning for the entire family, especially for children," "An example of a tasty yet 23 balanced breakfast," and "Nutella® can form a part of a balanced meal."—which are likely to create 24 expectations of safety and well-being among consumer—is likely to deceive members of the Classes, 25 American consumers, and the general public about the healthfulness and safety of Defendant's Nutella® 26 product. 27 28 147. Defendant either knew or reasonably should have known that the claims on the labels of Nutella® were untrue and misleading. 34 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT 1 148. In accordance with Bus. & Prof. Code § 17203, Plaintiffs seek an order enjoining Ferrero 2 from continuing to conduct business through unlawful, unfair, and/or fraudulent acts and practices and to 3 commence a corrective advertising campaign. 4 149. Plaintiffs also seek an order for the disgorgement and restitution of all monies from the 5 sale of Nutella®, which were unjustly acquired through acts of unlawful, unfair, and/or fraudulent 6 competition. 7 THIRD CAUSE OF ACTION 8 Violations of the California False Advertising Law, 9 Bus. & Prof. Code § 17500 et seq. 10 150. 11 forth in full herein. 12 151. Plaintiffs reallege and incorporate the allegations elsewhere in the Complaint as if set In violation of Bus. & Prof. Code § 17500 et seq., the advertisements, labeling, policies, 13 acts, and practices described herein were designed to, and did, result in the purchase and use of the 14 products without the knowledge that Nutella® contain high levels of saturated fat, artificial trans fat, 15 sugar and other objectionable ingredients. 16 152. 17 false and misleading. 18 153. Ferrero either knew or reasonably should have known that the labels on Nutella® were As a result, Plaintiffs, the Classes, and the general public are entitled to injunctive and 19 equitable relief, restitution, and an order for the disgorgement of the funds by which Ferrero was unjustly 20 enriched. 21 FOURTH CAUSE OF ACTION 22 Violations of the Consumer Legal Remedies Act, 23 Civ. Code § 1750 et seq. 24 (Injunctive Relief and Damages) 25 154. 26 forth in full herein. 27 155. 28 Plaintiffs reallege and incorporate the allegations elsewhere in the Complaint as if set The CLRA has adopted a statutory scheme prohibiting various deceptive practices in connection with the conduct of a business providing goods, property, or services primarily or personal, 35 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT 1 family, or household purposes. 2 156. Ferrero's policies, acts, and practices were designed to, and did, result in the purchase and 3 use of the products primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, and violated and continue to 4 violate at least the following sections of the CLRA: 5 a. § 1770(a)(5): representing that goods have characteristics, uses, or benefits which they do 6 not have. 7 b. § 1770(a)(7): representing that goods are of a particular standard, quality, or grade if they 8 are of another. 9 c. § 1770(a)(9): advertising goods with intent not to sell them as advertised. 10 d. § 1770(a)(16): representing the subject of a transaction has been supplied in accordance 11 with a previous representation when it has not. 12 157. As a result, Plaintiffs and members of the Classes have suffered irreparable harm and are 13 entitled to an order enjoining the above-described wrongful acts and practices of Ferrero, providing 14 restitution to all members of the Classes who are so entitled, ordering the payment of costs and attorneys' 15 fees, and such other relief as deemed appropriate and proper by the Court under California Civil Code 16 section 1780(a)(2). 17 158. In compliance with Civil Code section 1782, Plaintiffs have given written notice to 18 Ferrero of their claims and of their intention to seek damages under California Civil Code § 1750 et seq., 19 unless Ferrero provides an appropriate correction or refund plus interest and other appropriate relief to all 20 members of the Classes entitled to relief under the CLRA. 21 159. Ferrero has failed to provide such relief and has not adequately responded to the demand 22 to pay refunds and otherwise rectify the wrongful conduct described above on behalf of all members of 23 the Classes who may be entitled to relief under the CLRA. 24 160. Plaintiffs, therefore, seek an award of all actual and exemplary damages permitted for 25 violation of the CLRA, including for statutory damages of $1,000 per Class member and/or up to $5,000 26 per each Class member who qualifies as a "senior citizen" under the CLRA. 27 // 28 // 36 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT 1 SIXTH CAUSE OF ACTION 2 Breach of Express Warranty 3 161. 4 forth in full herein. 5 162. Plaintiffs reallege and incorporate the allegations elsewhere in the Complaint as if set Beginning at an exact date unknown to Plaintiffs, but at least since four years prior to the 6 filing date of this action, and as set forth hereinabove, Defendant made representations to the public, 7 including Plaintiffs, by its advertising, packaging and other means, that Nutella® is "an example of a 8 tasty yet balanced breakfast," among other representations. That promise and related promises became 9 part of the basis of the bargain between the parties and thus constituted an express warranty. 10 11 12 163. Thereon, Defendant sold the goods to Plaintiffs and other consumers, who bought the goods from Defendant. 164. However, Defendant breached the express warranty in that the goods were in fact not an 13 "example of a tasty yet balanced breakfast," or healthy, as set forth in detail hereinabove. As a result of 14 this breach, Plaintiffs and other consumers in fact did not receive goods as warranted by Defendant. 15 16 165. As a proximate result of this breach of warranty by Defendants, Plaintiffs and other consumers have been damaged in an amount to be determined at trial. 17 SEVENTH CAUSE OF ACTION 18 Breach of Implied Warranty of Merchantability 19 166. 20 forth in full herein. 21 167. Plaintiffs reallege and incorporate the allegations elsewhere in the Complaint as if set Beginning at an exact date unknown to Plaintiffs, but at least since four years prior to the 22 filing date of this action, and as set forth hereinabove, Defendant made representations to the public, 23 including Plaintiff, by their advertising, packaging and other means that Nutella® is "an example of a 24 tasty yet balanced breakfast," among other representations. Plaintiffs and other consumers bought those 25 goods from Defendant. 26 168. Defendant was a merchant with respect to goods of this kind which were sold to Plaintiffs 27 and other consumers, and there was in the sale to Plaintiffs and other consumers an implied warranty that 28 those goods were merchantable. 37 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT 1 169. However, Defendant breached that warranty implied in the contract for the sale of goods 2 in that Nutella® is in fact not "an example of a tasty yet balanced breakfast" and is also not a "healthy" 3 nor "nutritious" breakfast food, as set forth in detail hereinabove. 4 5 6 7 170. As a result of Defendant's conduct, Plaintiffs and other consumers did not receive goods as impliedly warranted by Defendant to be merchantable. 171. As a proximate result of this breach of warranty by Defendant, Plaintiffs and other consumers have been damaged in an amount to be determined at trial. 8 9 10 11 PRAYER ON ALL CAUSES OF ACTION WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs, on behalf of themselves, all others similarly situated, and the general public, prays for judgment against Ferrero as follows: A. 12 13 An order declaring this action to be a proper class action, appointing undersigned counsel as Class Counsel, and requiring Ferrero to bear the cost of class notice. B. An order enjoining Ferrero from: 14 a. Marketing Nutella® as "healthy." 15 b. Marketing Nutella® as "balanced nutrition." 16 c. Marketing Nutella® as "moms are helping nourish their children with whole 17 grains." 18 d. Marketing Nutella® as "Nutella® can form a part of a balanced meal." 19 e. Marketing Nutella® as "An example of a tasty yet balanced breakfast." 20 f. Marketing Nutella® as recommended or acceptable as a breakfast food. 21 g. Marketing Nutella® using the words "healthy", "wholesome," "balanced," "balanced 22 23 nutrition," "nutritious," or "simple." C. An order compelling Ferrero to conduct a corrective advertising campaign to inform the 24 public that its products contain unsafe amounts of saturated fat at consumers' actual 25 consumption levels, and contained unsafe amounts of artificial trans fat at consumers' 26 actual consumption levels during the Class Period. 27 28 D. An order requiring Ferrero to disgorge or return all monies, revenues, and profits obtained by means of any wrongful act or practice. 38 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT 1 E. 2 3 An order compelling Ferrero to destroy all misleading and deceptive advertising materials and products. F. An order requiring Ferrero to pay restitution to restore all funds acquired by means of any 4 act or practice declared by this Court to be an unlawful, unfair, or fraudulent business act 5 or practice, untrue or misleading advertising, or a violation of the UCL, FAL or CLRA, 6 plus pre-and post-judgment interest thereon. 7 G. Costs, expenses, and reasonable attorneys' fees. 8 H. Damages in an amount to be determined at trial. 9 I. Punitive damages. 10 J. All such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper. 11 12 JURY DEMAND Plaintiffs demand a trial by jury on all causes of action so triable. 13 14 Dated July 3, 2011 Respectfully submitted, 15 16 /s/ JACK FITZGERALD 17 Jack Fitzgerald Gregory S. Weston Melanie Persinger THE WESTON FIRM 18 19 20 Ronald A. Marron LAW OFFICES OF RONALD A. MARRON, APLC 21 INTERIM CLASS COUNSEL 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 39 FIRST AMENDED CONSOLIDATED COMPLAINT


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We're not gonna lie, The Real Housewives of New York is one of our guilty pleasures at Belly Dance Maternity. That's why we were so excited when Bethenny Frankel came shopping at our Hudson St store. Here's a pic that Bethenny posted on Twitter wearing one of fabulous Olian maternity dresses.
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Real Housewives of Belly Dance
This entry was posted on April 15, 2010 by admin.
This entry was posted in As Seen In, Belly Dance News, Celebrity Pregnancies, Celebrity Styles, Our Favorite Things on April 15, 2010 by admin. ← Previous Post Next Post →

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Hurley Station Sweatshirt
SALE $29.50 was $59.00 Item #43770MFT641STA
Sorry, this product is currently not available on buckle.com.
- Sherpa lined zip-up hooded sweatshirt
- Embroidered sleeve hit
- Shell: 84% Cotton, 16% Polyester. Lining: 100% Polyester.
- Machine wash cold. Wash inside out with like colors. Only non-chlorine bleach when needed. Tumble dry low. Warm iron. Do not iron design.
- Made in China.
Have a Question?
Email Guest Services.
We changed our page. Tell us what you think.
- Chest measures 44" on a size medium.
- Center back length measures 28".


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FILE - In this May 7, 2012 file photo, Hugh Dancy and Claire Danes arrive at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute gala benefit in New York. Danes� rep on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012 confirmed the couple welcomed a baby boy named Cyrus Michael Christopher on Monday, Dec. 17. (AP Photo/Charles Sykes, File)
NEW YORK (AP) — Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy's "Homeland" just got bigger.
Danes' rep confirms the couple welcomed a baby boy named Cyrus Michael Christopher.
People.com first reported Monday's birth.
It's the first child for 33-year old Danes and 37-year-old Dancy. They were married in 2009.
There's no word yet whether the new mom will attend the Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 13. She's nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series for her work on Showtime's "Homeland."
Up next, Dancy stars in NBC's "Hannibal," an adaptation of Thomas Harris' novel "Red Dragon."
Associated Press
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Will This Price Target Cut Hurt Pier 1 Imports (PIR) Stock Today?
NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Barclays (BCS) lowered its price target for Pier 1 Imports (PIR) to $18 from $23 Friday, reiterating its "overweight" rating for the stock.
The analyst form also lowered its EPS estimates for the retailer through 2015. Pire 1 Imports' expense ramp will be higher than previously modeled according to Barclays analysts.
Must read: Warren Buffett's 25 Favorite Stocks
STOCKS TO BUY: TheStreet Quant Ratings has identified a handful of stocks that can potentially TRIPLE in the next 12 months. Learn more.----------------- Separately, TheStreet Ratings team rates PIER 1 IMPORTS INC/DE as a Hold with a ratings score of C+. TheStreet Ratings Team has this to say about their recommendation: "We rate PIER 1 IMPORTS INC/DE (PIR) a HOLD. The primary factors that have impacted our rating are mixed -- some indicating strength, some showing weaknesses, with little evidence to justify the expectation of either a positive or negative performance for this stock relative to most other stocks. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, notable return on equity and reasonable valuation levels. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including deteriorating net income, weak operating cash flow and a generally disappointing performance in the stock itself." Highlights from the analysis by TheStreet Ratings Team goes as follows:
- PIR's revenue growth has slightly outpaced the industry average of 1.0%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues slightly increased by 6.1%. This growth in revenue does not appear to have trickled down to the company's bottom line, displayed by a decline in earnings per share.
- The return on equity has improved slightly when compared to the same quarter one year prior. This can be construed as a modest strength in the organization. When compared to other companies in the Specialty Retail industry and the overall market, PIER 1 IMPORTS INC/DE's return on equity exceeds that of the industry average and significantly exceeds that of the S&P 500.
- 40.02% is the gross profit margin for PIER 1 IMPORTS INC/DE which we consider to be strong. Regardless of PIR's high profit margin, it has managed to decrease from the same period last year. Despite the mixed results of the gross profit margin, the net profit margin of 3.59% trails the industry average.
- The company, on the basis of change in net income from the same quarter one year ago, has significantly underperformed when compared to that of the S&P 500 and the Specialty Retail industry. The net income has significantly decreased by 26.0% when compared to the same quarter one year ago, falling from $20.35 million to $15.06 million.
- Net operating cash flow has decreased to $27.13 million or 30.49% when compared to the same quarter last year. In addition, when comparing the cash generation rate to the industry average, the firm's growth is significantly lower.
- You can view the full analysis from the report here: PIR Ratings Report
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On Deadly Ground
Description: Jennings (Michael Caine), a corrupt company owner will stop at nothing to open a new refinery in Alaska. Forrest Taft (Steven Seagal), a disgruntled former employee is chosen by an Eskimo chief as savior of his people. Forrest's mission is to prevent the new refinery from beginning work before the land rights are returned to the Eskimos.~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide
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*We offer free Standard ground shipping in the contiguous United States for orders over $100 and a flat $10 shipping rate for orders under $100. Some heavy and/or bulky items shipped via freight services to specific urban ZIP codes (such as NYC or DC), or rural areas, may incur a $100 "high cost service area fee" imposed by our shipping carriers. If applicable, this charge will be displayed in the shopping cart after ZIP code entry. Please call us at 855.2.EURWAY (855.238.7929) to obtain a shipping quote to addresses in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
While we do cover the cost of outbound shipping for orders over $100, in the event of a return a 20% fee will be assessed to help us recover our outbound shipping costs. Return shipping can then be arranged with a shipping carrier of your choosing. You may also elect to have eurway.com arrange return shipping for you and pay an additional 20% fee to cover our return shipping costs. Although we currently offer free shipping to our customers as a promotion, we must still pay our shipping carriers to transport your furniture.
Front Door Delivery is an add-on service charged by our freight companies for services performed during the delivery. We still cover the cost of shipping your item to your area and the fee we charge covers this optional service. Fees for any services, including White Glove delivery which may feature assembly, trash removal and inside delivery, are non-refundable. As with Free Shipping noted above, you are responsible for paying back the freight transit charges we've incurred on any item you elect to return and the costs for return shipping back to us. Items which have been assembled by you or a White Glove installer are non-returnable. White Glove Delivery charges quoted in the Shopping Cart are for a single trip only and have minimum charges built-in.
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Comments for The Man with the Violin
The Man with the Violin: 12/12/13
The Man with the Violin by Kathy Stinson is based on the performance Joshua Bell gave in the Washington D.C. subway. Of the thousand or so people who rushed by, only seven stopped to listen.
Stinson uses those seven people as a stepping off point. In her story, a young child wants to stop to listen but his mother is too focused on all the things she has to do.
The subway station and the crowds are rendered in a monochromatic scheme. The music floats through the scenes on rainbow waves. It's beautifully and stylistically affective.
So my question to you, dear reader, do you stop to listen when there's live music in the subway station?
Five stars
books | Kathy Stinson | childrens | 2013
© 1997-2014 Sarah Sammis


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The 62th Annual Northern Minnesota Regional Science Fair, will be held on Saturday, February 14, 2015 in Memorial Hall on the Bemidji State University Campus. Exhibit set-up will be available as early as 7:00 AM, with the judging beginning at 8:30 AM. The program and awards ceremony is scheduled to begin at 12:45 PM, and we anticipate that the program and awards will be done by 3:00 PM or earlier.
Registration is through our website.
Registration for students consists of two steps:
1) Students complete online submission of a registration form for the fair.
2) Email a completed summary of students who are attending (Teacher Summary Form) as an attachment.
The registration deadline is February 1st. That is also the date that ISEF forms need to be received at Bemidji State University.
This allows us to track all participants from a school. The form should be emailed as an attachment to firstname.lastname@example.com
The registration fee is $20 per project, and $35 if the student is doing both a project and a paper. This information is on the registration form, and the teacher summary form.


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Chamber music > Chamber music with winds
Ludwig van Beethoven
Three Duos WoO 27 for Clarinet and Bassoon
Editor: Egon Voss
20.00 €
Urtext Edition, paperbound
with parts for clarinet in B flat and C
Pages: 54 (V, 28, 21), Size 23,5 x 31,0 cm
Order no. HN 974 · ISMN M-2018-0974-8
The three Duos for Clarinet and Bassoon WoO 27 stylistically belong to Beethoven's earliest creative period. Due to their lively character, the skilful play with timbre, and the fact that they are not very technically demanding, they have always numbered among the wind chamber music showpieces and are also popular works for pupils and students. The sole source for the musical text is a printed edition which was only published after Beethoven's death – presumably a reprint of lost Parisian editions. The original manuscripts also no longer exist. Our edition follows the musical text in the Beethoven Complete Edition (Volume VI/1); there are two alternative versions for clarinet in B flat and C enclosed with the performance score for bassoon.


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Port Saunders/Port au Choix
Keppel Island Lighthouse, located near the mouth of Port Saunders harbour, was a kerosene-burning lighthouse when it was first built in 1901. The town of Port au Choix is known as the "fishing capital" of western Newfoundland. The National Historic Site preserves one of the most significant Maritime Archaic Indians sites in North America, along with Dorset and Groswater Eskimo communities that are some of the richest found to date, with excellent examples of bone implements, weapons and tools. The Museum of Whales and Things is another must see – 95 per cent of a 46-foot male sperm whale is suspended by nylon from the ceiling of the museum.


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YMCA Kanawana in Quebec is doing its part to keep the air a little cleaner, the water a little clearer and the earth a little sturdier. Camp Kanawana began creating a green camp in the fall of 2004. "We were in a … process of looking forward for the future of the camp," says Daniel Tierney, YMCA of Greater Montreal Development and Marketing Director. "We identified whom we serve, evaluated our facility, and listed the renovations and repairs to be …
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Category Archives: Kung Fu
Single-edged sword vs paired butterfly swords
From the classic Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang (not to be confused with 36 Chambers).
Traditional Snake and Drunken kungfu styles
Who do I have to kill so I can crawl over broken glass to train with this guy?
Needle Through Brick
The needle is kungfu, the brick is HISTORY. Although the mainland Chinese destroyed much of their vast wealth of martial arts tradition during the Cultural Revolution, parts live on in Indonesia:


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