Who’s Eligible
If you purchased Beyond Meat products between May 31, 2018 to and including August 14, 2024 for household use you might be eligible for this class action settlement. The class action claims that Beyond Meat Products overstate the protein content and quality, Beyond Meat has denied any wrong doing but agreed to this settlement.
How Much?
The settlement pool is $7,500,000. You can claim $2 per item purchased, up to a maximum of 5 claims without proof of purchase or unlimited claims with proof of purchase.
Important Dates
- Opt-Out Deadline Friday, November 29, 2024
- Objection Deadline Friday, November 29, 2024
- Claim Deadline Monday, April 14, 2025
- Fairness Hearing Thursday, January 23, 2025.
Our Verdict
As always worth applying for if eligible.
Hat tip to L. K.
A quick check shows I’ve bought this stuff at least 50 times over that time period. Easy $100. Thanks!
Just cuious. Do you save all receipt??
No, but I order from Amazon/Whole Foods a lot so it’s easy to search.
do you have to buy the meat in its raw form to count? so things like BK’s Beyond Bg and McPlant don’t count?
This interested me enough to read the court documents to see what the lawsuit was about. Here’s the best I can do to summarize:
The lawsuit is claiming that because Beyond advertises their protein quantity on the front of the package (as opposed to just putting it on the nutrition label on the back), this subjects them to a stricter test to measure amount of protein in the product.
The testing methodology matters when you have a lower quality (i.e. incomplete) protein, which is common when you’re using vegetable protein sources.
According to the lab testing done for the lawsuit’s claims, the total amount of protein you absorb/use from this product is about 80% less than what’s on the label.
So if you eat a Beyond burger with “20 grams of protein,” that’s roughly equivalent to 1/5th of a real burger or having 4 grams of whey protein.
“So if you eat a Beyond burger with “20 grams of protein,” that’s roughly equivalent to 1/5th of a real burger or having 4 grams of whey protein.”
That’s true if your diet is pure Beyond Burger with no other protein source. In the real world it would never be that low because combining almost any 2 protein sources makes them at least a little bit more complete.
And with the exception of egg white they are all at least somewhat incomplete.
So it’s going to fall somewhere in between but that’s way too much nuance for even the back of the package. All you have to do is put it in a bun or add a slice of cheese and the protein quality goes way up.
Except for athletes, bodybuilders and vegans most consumers are unaware and not interested. To them, “grams of protein” amounts to a misleading advertising slogan.
>> So it’s going to fall somewhere in between but that’s way too much nuance for even the back of the package.
What the lawsuit is claiming is that all of this nuance is legally required because of the protein advertisement on the front of the package. And if Beyond didn’t have their front-package advertising, it would be okay to use their nuance-free “20 grams” on the back — but that’s the only place they can display it. And if they want to advertise on the front, the most they can claim is 4 grams of protein for one of their patties (with similar reductions across the rest of their product lines).
I’m not saying I agree or not with their interpretation of the law regarding food labeling because I have no idea. I do appreciate the thoughtful reply though.
Here is the nutrition label requirement straight from the FDA for anyone curious:
“When the protein in foods represented or purported to be for adults and children 4 or more years of age has a protein quality value that is a protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score of less than 20 expressed as a percent, or when the protein in a food represented or purported to be for children greater than 1 but less than 4 years of age has a protein quality value that is a protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score of less than 40 expressed as a percent, either of the following shall be placed adjacent to the declaration of protein content by weight: The statement “not a significant source of protein,” or a listing aligned under the column headed “Percent Daily Value” of the corrected amount of protein per serving, as determined in paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of this section, calculated as a percentage of the Daily Reference Value (DRV) or Reference Daily Intake (RDI), as appropriate, for protein and expressed as a Percent of Daily Value.”
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/cfrsearch.cfm?fr=101.9
Seems like they might have been trying to slide in right above the 20% figure that requires the change in labeling.
I’m unfamiliar with the requirement as it pertains to the front of the package.
What is this logical discourse you speak of? And on the internet!?
Very true most Americans get more than enough protein to make up for the 20g of pea/soy protein. Possibly could matter to extream vegetarians, but that’s what dairy is for.
Moot point though as those fine folks at carlzjrs’ are developing a Beyond Algae burger. Made of the finest primordial ooze.
It doesn’t matter what you think of Beyond Meat or whether you like their products. This settlement will cost them same amount regardless of who claims it.
I requested a paper check so as not to waste the spend on 0% return. Mobile deposit might even be a qualifying transaction for some upcoming bank SUB.
yes that is always the case, the reason not to commit fraud is that it reduces the share available to actual victims (and you know it is also fraud.) Eventually it is possible that all these claims administrators are going to take a look at their records and see that some random guy is a victim of every single class action and never provides proof.
There’s no centralized database of who has applied for the multitude of class actions, so that’s currently impossible for claims administrators to do. Despite that they can and do catch at least some fraudsters. For a couple of years I had some idiot signing up for every class action settlement he could find using my email address. The reason I know most of them were fraudulent claims is because I also received the denial emails saying so.
There are only a few claims administrators handing 99% of class actions now so there is almost certainly a way to cross reference claimants.
“(and you know it is also fraud.)”
Actually I know it’s not fraud. I made no claim I was deceived and the question was never asked. I did, however, purchase the product more than 5 times.
I’m not a victim, because to me their protein claim was obviously intended to mislead so I ignored it. There are claims like this all over food packaging and grocery stores. Usually so ridiculous you can only laugh. “Gluten-free” bottled water and “all natural” ultra processed cereal LOL. Who takes any of this marketing seriously? Surely anyone who cares would just turn over the package and read the back?
“…it reduces the share available to actual victims”
Probably the actual victims were the stockholders. They weren’t even included in the class.
Wait, so, 5 claims without proof of purchase, $2 each, so $10 free for the first folks to submit claims, regardless of whether they purchased anything.
You need to have purchased them to be eligible, otherwise it’s fraud.
Can we submit more than one claim for a household/same address?
Fooled by the marketing buzz and bought it 4 or 5 times from the grocery store though wife doesn’t like at all. BTW, do we need to provide any proof/receipt in order to submit a claim?
Did you read the post?
> How Much?
The settlement pool is $7,500,000. You can claim $2 per item purchased, up to a maximum of 5 claims without proof of purchase or unlimited claims with proof of purchase
You would actually need to read more than just the title in order to know what this claim is about. Maybe your wife can help you.
lol
Stupid lawsuit.
Thanks. Would love to get something back from these terrible products.
Terrible? Beyond > Impossible
As a vegan who doesn’t care about my own health, I feel sad about this.
I’ve purchased tons of beyond meat products and will continue to do so as long as it’s available.