Archer Daniels Midland Company; Ajinomoto Co., Inc. and Ajinomoto USA, Inc.; CJ Corp., f/k/a Cheil Jedang Corporation and CJ America, Inc.; Daesang Corporation, Daesang Group d/b/a/ Miwon Group, Miwon Company Ltd., Daesang Japan, Inc. and Daesang America, Inc.; Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd., Kyowa Hakko U.S.A., Inc., Kyowa Foods, Inc., and Kyowa America, Inc.; Samsung Corporation; and Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.
Between January 1983 and November 1999, consumers and business indirectly purchased MSG and/or Nucleotides. A class action lawsuit alleged antitrust, consumer protection and unfair trade practice law violations by the following food manufacturers: Archer Daniels Midland Company; Ajinomoto Co., Inc. and Ajinomoto USA, Inc.; CJ Corp., f/k/a Cheil Jedang Corporation and CJ America, Inc.; Daesang Corporation, Daesang Group d/b/a/ Miwon Group, Miwon Company Ltd., Daesang Japan, Inc. and Daesang America, Inc.; Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd., Kyowa Hakko U.S.A., Inc., Kyowa Foods, Inc., and Kyowa America, Inc.; Samsung Corporation; and Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.
MSG and Nucleotides are food flavor enhancers used in a variety of foods such as dehydrated soups and gravies; canned meat; sausage; prepared meals; tomato sauce and ketchup; mayonnaise; snack foods; soy sauce; crab, prawn, fish and shellfish (preserved); Asian cuisine; and prepared vegetables.
$39.775 million antitrust settlement awarded to consumers and businesses that indirectly purchased MSG and/or Nucleotides in the Settling States: Arizona, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Puerto Rico, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Plaintiffs have asked that the money be distributed to charitable organizations. (Jul-05-06)
