Chiquita faces another eco-lawsuit - FreshFruitPortal.com

Chiquita faces another eco-lawsuit

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Chiquita faces another eco-lawsuit

Chiquita Brands International (NYSE: CQB) has been faced with another lawsuit, this time from a Seattle-based firm alleging the multinational produces bananas in such as way that poisons local residents, destroys ecosystems and contaminates drinking water.Ā banana_87251656 - small

The lawsuit was filed on Feb. 9 by Hagens Berman in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, and alleges that in spite of Chiquita's promises to act as a safe and sustainable company in communities where its products are grown, the company knowingly hid the fact that its production practices were environmentally harmful.

"Chiquita promised its customers it follows 'strict standards' of ecofriendly production including practices that 'conserve wildlife habitats, national resources and promote community wellbeing,' yet, its business practices have wreaked havoc on local communities where it grows and harvests its produce," Hagens Berman managing partner Steve Berman claims.

"Chiquita knew that consumers valued environmentally sound production methods, and used its deceptive marketing to cover up its foul production methods."

According to Hagens Berman, the lawsuit accuses Chiquita of failing to disclose in its marketing materials and at the point of sale that its bananas are allegedly produced with methods that contaminate water supplies, destroy the crops of local communities, and cause illnesses in children.

"Chiquita's blue sticker is supposedly an 'iconic symbol for high quality fruit,' but Chiquita's trademark sticker is only serving as a subterfuge to blindside consumers for its own profits," Berman claims.

"Over the last 20 years, Chiquita has presented itself as a company with a renewed sense of corporate social responsibility, and we believe the evidence will show that Chiquita has concealed its true practices."

The suit alleges that Chiquita's false claims to its customers violate the California Consumer Legal Remedies Act, the California Unfair Competition Law and California Common Law in relation to fraud and unjust enrichment.

According to the complaint, Chiquita allegedly purchases millions of pounds of bananas per year from plantations that have caused significant environmental harm to ecosystems that have historically provided sustenance and livelihoods to approximately 7,200 Guatemalan people.

"We strongly believe that Chiquita knew about these harmful practices that have been so damaging to local ecosystems," Berman said.

"No company should be able to get away with such a blatant disregard for the environment and community in which it operates, especially when a company profits so heavily by misleading consumers, as we allege Chiquita has done."

The plaintiff in the suit alleges that if he had been informed of the damaging methods used to produce Chiquita bananas, he would not have purchased them.

Related stories: Chiquita denies Guatemalan water contamination claims

U.S. NGO sues Chiquita for "deceptive" advertising

Photo: www.shutterstock.com

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