Los Angeles, CA: (Apr-30-08) A class action lawsuit was brought against Pinkberry, the frozen yogurt chain known for its addictive sour flavor, long lines, and long list of devoted celebrities, alleging that Pinkberry's fro-yo, which was advertised as "yogurt", and "all natural", was in fact neither of those claims. Following the suit, the company posted its ingredients online and began mixing its product off-site. It was said that among the 23 ingredients that go into making so-called Crackberry's original flavor, Propylene glycol esters, magnesium oxide, tocopherol, and maltodextrin were included, making it a cocktail of emulsifiers, acidifiers, preservatives, and fillers.
The company recently announced that it has reached a settlement in the class action suit, in which it will pay $750,000 to two charities-the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and Para Los Ninos. Additionally, it will pay legal fees as well as a $5,000 reward to the plaintiff. State laws mandated that a product can't be marketed as frozen yogurt unless it is made from milk that is fermented with certain bacteria, mixed off-site rather than in stores, and sold with its ingredients prominently displayed. Records show that the product's makers were unaware of these laws. [
