Whole Foods prevails in ‘humane’ lawsuit

A federal judge in California has dismissed, with prejudice, a lawsuit filed against Whole Foods by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, alleging that the high-end “natural” and organic food retailer is deceiving consumers with its claims of “humane” treatment of the animals from which Whole Foods derives its meat products.

According to court documents, the U.S. District Court judge in San Jose granted Whole Foods’ motion for dismissal, saying that PETA and its co-plaintiffs had failed to back up its allegations with affirmative examples or any demonstration that information omitted from Whole Foods’ marketing claims had compromised consumer safety in any way.