Campbell Soup Co. and the American Heart Association is now facing a lawsuit for allegedly conspiring to deceive the consumers that the products passed the "Heart-Check" requirements.
The lawsuit was filed by a Huntington, Calif.-based resident Kerry O'Shea on the U.S District Court of New Jersey. Attorney Adam Levitt, who represents O'Shea, aims to get compensation for his client and the rest of the consumers affected by the conspiracy of the defendants. They also want to remind other businesses that deceiving consumers through mislabeled products is not right.
O'Shea refused to comment on the issue.
The canned goods manufacturer based in Camden, N.J which sell its product to over 120 countries has been in the business since 1869 and is famous for its product Campbell's Soup.
The lawsuit indicated that the non-profit organization AHA had allegedly betrayed the consumers for allowing Campbell to use its "heart check" label. The label serves as a certification that a product has met the standards of being heart friendly.
"None of Campbell's AHA-certified products meet the AHA's own noncommercial dietary and nutrition standards because those products' sodium levels – 410 milligrams per serving, or between 820 and 1,025 milligrams per unit – far exceed the AHA's (and the FDA's) low-sodium threshold of 140 milligrams of sodium per serving," according to the lawsuit as reported by ABC News.
Campbell spokesperson Carla Burrigato declined to comment as they haven't received the papers from the firm yet.
The AHA refused to comment about the lawsuit but it has released a statement saying that the organization only gives certification to a product if it really meets their strict requirements. They also conduct regular testing of the products even after certification to ensure the quality is maintained.
Having a "Heart-Check" label on a product increases sale by 75 percent, according to AHA's study. You may see the complete list of the Campbell products that passed the Food Certification Program listed in AHA's website here.
