Beyond Meat and Don Lee Farms remain in a legal battle five years after a contract lawsuit was filed against Beyond Meat (Savage River).

In the lawsuit, Don Lee Farms filed complaints for the following: breach of contract, unfair competition under the California business and professions code, money owed and due, declaratory relief, and injunctive relief.

A new federal lawsuit was filed in June against Beyond Meat and its CEO, Ethan Brown, alleging “false advertising and unfair competition”. The suit, filed in the Central District of California on behalf of Don Lee Farms, claimed that “Beyond Meat overstates the protein value of its products by up to 30% and has falsely represented that its products are free from ‘synthetic’ ingredients”.

The jury trial continued on Tuesday where the motions in limine were heard and argued, according to a court filing. Don Lee Farms was previously a supplier of Beyond Burger and Beyond Meat products.

In a 10-K SEC filing from May 2022, Beyond Meat stated: “If Don Lee Farms succeeds in the lawsuit, the company could be required to pay damages, including but not limited to contract damages reasonably calculated at what the company would have paid Don Lee Farms to produce the company’s products through 2019, the end of the contract term.”

LA county superior court documents showed that another hearing will take place today.

FoodBev has contacted Don Lee Farms for comment.

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