A proposed class-action lawsuit against Mondelez International Inc, the maker of Trident "Original Flavor" gum, has been dismissed by a federal judge in Illinois. The lawsuit was brought by Kristen Lesorgen, a resident of Sycamore, Illinois, who alleged that Mondelez deceived consumers into believing that the gum contained real mint. However, U.S. District Judge Iain Johnston ruled that it was unreasonable to assume that the gum would contain mint or peppermint just because its packaging featured an "unnaturally blue" leaf with condensation bubbles.
Judge Johnston also noted that a similar case against Walmart was dismissed under similar circumstances. The judge stated that Mondelez's labeling was not deceptive, misleading, or false, and that the packaging only hints that the gum's flavor is mint, not that it contains mint or peppermint.
The lawsuit covered consumers in Illinois and eight other U.S. states and accused Mondelez of violating various consumer protection laws. However, the judge dismissed the case with prejudice, meaning it cannot be brought again. Lawyers for Lesorgen have not yet commented on the ruling, and neither have Mondelez and its lawyers.