A Canadian pasta company may be in hot water after the Quebec Superior Court authorized a class action against it, alleging that it misled customers into believing they were buying a product made in Italy.
Lex Group Attorneys are leading the suit against Barilla Canada Inc. on behalf of Quebecers who purchased “Italy’s #1 Brand of Pasta” at any time since Oct. 24, 2019.
“[The plaintiff] alleges in her action that the Class Members were misled by Barilla into believing that the Barilla pasta products sold in Quebec are produced in Italy with Italian-sourced ingredients, whereas the majority of the Barilla products sold in Quebec are produced in the United-States or Canada, with North American ingredients,” the law firm said in a news release.
The court authorized the class action in August and those who purchased Barilla pasta may be eligible for compensation or reimbursement.
The following products are included in the suit:
- the Barilla® Classic Blue Box Pastas,
- the Barilla® Collezione Artisanal Pastas,
- the Barilla® Gluten Free Pastas,
- the Barilla® Veggie Pastas, and/or
- the Barilla® Whole Grain Pastas,
All accusations have yet to be proven in court.
Barilla will be able to defend the claims in court in Montreal.
The plaintiff alleges that Barilla made “false or misleading statements, advertisements or representations,” and was carrying out a “prohibited practices, in the sale and marketing of its pasta, given their place of production and the geographical origin of their ingredients.”
The plaintiff is asking the court to issue an injunction against Barilla making the misleading statements and pay punitive damages.
Those wanting to join the class action must do so by May 22 on the law firm’s website.
