Bioengineered Disclosure

Case Law

The following resources represent a collection of court filings and judicial opinions regarding bioengineered disclosure. Furthermore, the decisions may be viewed via an online legal database using the mentioned docket number.

This list of cases is not exhaustive.

National Family Farm Coalition, et al. v. Vilsack, et al.
USDC N.D. California, No. 3:21-cv-5695

• Complaint (July 26, 2021) (challenging the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Final Rule on “Movement of Certain Genetically Engineered Organisms,” found in 7 C.F.R. Parts 340 and 372) 
• Plaintiffs’ motion and memorandum for summary judgment (December 6, 2022) 

To find additional details regarding this case, please consult the Federal Litigation section of the Bioengineered Food Disclosure issue tracker.  

Natural Grocers, et al. v. Perdue, et al. 
USDC N.D. California, No. 3:20-cv-5151

• Complaint (July 27, 2020) (challenging the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard). 
• Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment (November 23, 2021). 
• Order granting plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment (September 13, 2022). 
• Notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (November 10, 2022). 

To find additional details regarding this case, please consult the Federal Litigation section of the Bioengineered Food Disclosure issue tracker.  

Center for Food Safety v. Sonny Perdue et al. [Case closed]
USDC N.D. California, No. 4:18-cv-4633

• Complaint for Declaratory and Equitable Relief (August. 1, 2018) (challenging the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) non-compliance with the mandatory deadlines outlined in the 2016 Federal Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standards Act, 7 U.S.C. § 1639 et seq.) 
• Plaintiffs’ Motion for Voluntary Dismissal (January 4, 2019)
• Order granting Plaintiffs’ Motion for Voluntary Dismissal (January 7, 2019)

Jennifer Latiff v. Nestle USA Inc. [Case closed]
USDC C.D. California, No. 2:18-cv-6503

• Class Action Complaint (July 27, 2018) (challenging Nestle USA Inc.’s misleading labeling of its products as GMO-free)
• Order dismissing case with prejudice (March 10, 2020)

Center for Food Safety v. U.S. Office of Management and Budget [Case closed]
USDC District of Columbia, No. 1:18-cv-1578

• Complaint (July 3, 2018) (challenging the U.S. Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) unlawful withholding of records on the regulation of bio- and genetically engineered foods under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946) 
• Stipulation of Dismissal (November 13, 2020)

Center for Food Safety v. Sonny Perdue et al. [Case closed]
USDC N.D. California, No. 4:17-cv-4967

• Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief (August 25, 2017) (challenging the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) non-compliance with the mandatory deadlines outlined in the 2016 Federal Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standards Act, 7 U.S.C. § 1639 et seq.)
• Notice of Voluntary Dismissal (November 27, 2017)

Schneider et al. v. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. [Case closed]
USDC N.D. California, No. 4:16-cv-2200

• Class Action Complaint (April 22, 2016) (challenging Chipotle’s deceptive advertising and marketing practices regarding their claim of serving GMO-free food)
• Order granting motion to certify class (September 29, 2018)
• Order granting Preliminary Approval of Settlement (January 31, 2020)
• Motion for Final Approval of Settlement (June 1, 2020)

Reilly v. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. [Case closed]
USDC S.D. Florida, No. 1:15-cv-23425
Eleventh Circuit, No. 16-17461

• Class Action Complaint (September 10, 2015) (challenging Chipotle’s deceptive advertising and marketing practices regarding their claim of serving GMO-free food)
• Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment (June 17, 2016)
• Order granting Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment (November 17, 2016)
• Final judgment in favor of Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (December 2, 2016)
• Notice of Appeal (December 7, 2016)
• USCA Opinion (October 4, 2017) (affirming judgment and order of the U.S. District Court)

Gallagher et al. v. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. [Case closed]
USDC N.D. California, No. 4:15-cv-3952

• Class Action Complaint (August 28, 2015) (challenging Chipotle’s deceptive advertising and marketing practices regarding their claim of serving GMO-free food)
• Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss Complaint (September 21, 2015)
• Order granting Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss Complaint (February 5, 2016)
• First Amended Class Action Complaint (March 11, 2016)
• Order dismissing case without prejudice (April 4, 2016)

Grocery Manufacturers Association et al. v. Sorrell et al. [Case closed]
USDC Vermont, No. 5:14-cv-117
Second Circuit, No. 15-1504

• Complaint (June 12, 2014) (challenging Vermont’s Act 210) 
• Amended Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief (June 1, 2015)
• Opinion & Order granting in part and denying in part Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss and denying Plaintiffs’ Motion for a Preliminary Injunction (April 27, 2015)
• Notice of Appeal (May 6, 2015)
• Mandate of USCA Circuit dismissing case with prejudice (Aug. 5, 2016)
• Stipulation and Order of Voluntary Dismissal without Prejudice (September 1, 2016)

Eggnatz et al. v. The Kellogg Company, et al. [Case closed]
USDC S.D. Florida, No. 1:12-cv-21678

• Class Action Complaint for Equitable Relief & Damages (May 3, 2012) (challenging the labeling of the cereal product Go Lean Crunch® as “all natural” despite the presence of genetically modified organisms)
• Order granting Preliminary Approval of Class Action Settlement (September 4, 2015)
• Motion for Final Approval of Class Action Settlement (December 14, 2015)
• Final Judgment and Order of Dismissal (February 1, 2016)