Lindt has admitted that it’s chocolate isn’t actually “expertly crafted with the finest ingredients.” The Swiss chocolatier made the bombshell announcement in a bid to get the lawsuit against them dismissed, but the Eastern District of New York court denied the attempt. The luxury chocolate brand found itself in the middle of a class action lawsuit in February 2023, after a U.S. consumer organization reported that high amounts of lead were found in its dark chocolate bars. Now, lawyers for the popular brand have come forward and said that the iconic words printed on its chocolate bars were nothing more than “puffery.” The court, however, said product puffery is “exaggerated advertising, blustering, and boasting upon which no reasonable buyer would rely.” Meanwhile, tests revealed that in addition to high amounts of lead, the chocolate also contains high levels of cadmium, a chemical element that can lead to multiple health effects, including cancer. Customers were outraged because they paid more money for the brand that promised “quality and safe dark chocolate.” Dark chocolate has long been touted as a healthier choice for people looking to satisfy their sweet tooth without spiking their blood-sugar, but what millions of people may not know is that they may also contain heavy metals linked to cancer. What this lawsuit shows is that marketing and packaging mean nothing. That’s why it’s crucial to know what you’re eating and for companies to provide honest and quantified data on their products.
