Unilever Withdraws Lawsuit Against Hampton Creek Over Labelling Of "Just Mayo"

(RTTNews) - Anglo-Dutch consumer goods company Unilever Plc (UN, UL, ULVR.L) said that it has withdrawn its lawsuit against Hampton Creek over the labelling of its Just Mayo product.

"Unilever has decided to withdraw its lawsuit against Hampton Creek so that Hampton Creek can address its label directly with industry groups and appropriate regulatory authorities," said Mike Faherty, Vice President for Foods, Unilever North America.

Faherty said, "We applaud Hampton Creek's commitment to innovation and its inspired corporate purpose. We share a vision with Hampton Creek of a more sustainable world. It is for these reasons that we believe Hampton Creek will take the appropriate steps in labelling its products going forward."

Unilever United States, which makes Hellmann 's and Best Foods brands of mayonnaise, had Hampton Creek Inc. of false advertising for calling its egg-free spread " mayo, " in a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in New Jersey.

The consumer products giant alleged that the marketing for Just Mayo was misleading to shoppers. The spread doesn't fit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's definition for mayonnaise because it doesn't contain eggs. Unilever demanded that Hampton Creek change its label, and sought compensation for unspecified damages, claiming Just Mayo was stealing market share from Hellmann's.