Kroger sued for not telling ‘Simple Truth’ on chicken labels

By P.J. Huffstutter CHICAGO (Reuters) – Kroger Co, the biggest U.S. supermarket operator, faces a lawsuit claiming it deceived consumers by marketing a store brand as humanely raised chicken products when the animals were raised under standard commercial farming. The complaint, filed late on Tuesday in Superior Court of California in Los Angeles County, is seeking class-action status against Kroger for allegedly misleading California consumers with claims about the grocer’s “Simple Truth” premium-priced store brand of chicken. Kroger spokesman Keith Dailey told Reuters on Wednesday that the company has not had an opportunity to review the lawsuit. However, Dailey said: “What we have on our Simple Truth chicken label is information for our customers that we believe is accurate, and we intend to vigorously defend our label.” The “Simple Truth” chicken products were packaged with labeling that stated the animals were raised “in a humane environment” and “cage free,” according to the lawsuit.