Fake Black Olives Challenged in Class Action Lawsuit Claiming the Products Are Really Green Olives

A Quebec class action lawsuit accuses food distributors of misleadingly marketing fake black olives, alleging the products are really green olives that have been chemically manipulated.

Lead plaintiff, Annie Langlais, claims in her fake black olives class action lawsuit that true black olives take weeks, if not months, to ripen and harvest from the tree; however, food producers cannot wait this long. Instead, according to the plaintiff, producers pick the olives while they are still green and expose them to the chemical gluconate.

According to Cook’s Info, black olives are made by first curing the pitted green olives in a lye solution for a week. This process turns them black. Then, according to the publication, they are washed and soaked in ferrous gluconate to stabilize the black color and not allow them to fade out.

Ferrous gluconate is an iron salt, according to Cook’s Info. After the gluconate bath, the now black olives are usually packed in a low-salt brine and heat sterilized.

False Advertising of Fake Black Olives

The plaintiff claims that consumers are misled about the true nature of the olives. The fake black olives class action lawsuit contends that distributors fail to disclose that they use green olives that have been turned black by the use of gluconate. Instead, consumers are duped into thinking they are buying real black olives that take much more time to make.

Langlais contends that the following distributor brands of olives sold in Quebec need to change their labels to more clearly indicate that they contain the allegedly fake black olives:

• Unico
• Pasten
• Whyte’s
• Groupe Phenicia
• Aliments ID

The class action lawsuit names a number of retailers as defendants who allegedly sell fake black olives under their house brands as well. The defendants include Walmart, Metro More, Adonis, AMI, Super C, Sobeys, IGA, IGA Express, Bonisoir, Loblaws, Maxi, Warehouse Club, and Dollarama.

Class Action Lawsuit Seeks to Represent Duped Consumers

According to the class action lawsuit, there are two Classes of consumers who have been misled by fake black olives. First, Quebec residents who purchased black olives containing gluconate from one of the defendant retailers since Dec. 11, 2017.

In addition, the plaintiff also seeks to represent Quebec consumers who purchased brands of black olives containing gluconate since Dec. 11, 2017.

The class action lawsuit is seeking reimbursement on behalf of the Class Members for the cost of the fake black olives, along with interest.

False Advertising of Olive Products

This is not the first class action lawsuit filed over allegedly adulterated olives and olive oil products. In the United States, the makers of Bertolli Olive Oil agreed to pay $7 million to end allegations that it misrepresented its olive oil as imported from Italy. Bertoli was also accused of falsely advertising its product as “extra virgin” olive oil.

The makers of Iberia Olive Oil were also hit with a class action lawsuit claiming the product was actually made with 80% sunflower oil, rather than the “Premium Blend of Extra Virgin Olive Oil” stated on the label.

Indeed, food manufacturers in Canada have also been accused of misrepresenting their products to consumers. The makers of Canada Dry Ginger Ale agreed to pay out $7.50 in class action rebates to consumers over allegations it falsely labeled the pop as “Made From Real Ginger.”

Have you purchased allegedly fake black olives? Do you think food distributors are duping consumers with this product? Tell us your opinion in the comment section below.

Lead plaintiff, Annie Langlais, and the Class Members are represented by Adams Avocat.

The Fake Black Olive Class Action Lawsuit is Langlais v. Wal-Mart, et al., Case No. 705-06-000008-202, in the Province of Quebec, District of Joliette, Canada.

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