Beyond Meat Pays $7.5M in Protein Content Lawsuit Settlement
Company
Beyond Meat
Why
False advertising
Total Settlement Amount
$7.5M
Maximum Individual Claimant Award
$10
Claim Deadline
April 14, 2025
There’s a significant $7.5 million class action settlement for false advertising against Beyond Meat, marking a crucial moment for consumers who purchased these plant-based meat substitute products. Specifically, this legal challenge addresses protein overstatement allegations and misleading advertising claims about protein content in Beyond Meat products between May 31, 2018, and August 14, 2024.
As a result of this controversy, eligible consumers who felt misled by Beyond Meat's protein content marketing can now file settlement claims for compensation. We've learned that customers can claim $2 for each of the covered products purchased with proof of purchase, while those without documentation can receive up to $10 for five products. This settlement fund covers various products, including their plant-based patties, Beyond breakfast sausage, and dinner links, addressing concerns about protein content accuracy in their marketing materials.
Beyond Meat Faces Legal Challenge Over Protein Claims
Multiple class-action lawsuits against Beyond Meat have been consolidated into a single case in Chicago, focusing on alleged deceptive practices regarding Beyond Meat protein content claims. The legal challenges primarily center on two critical aspects of protein labeling: quantity and quality measurements.
Independent laboratory testing revealed significant discrepancies between advertised and actual protein content. Furthermore, the daily value percentage of protein in Beyond Meat products appeared substantially lower than claimed. For instance, the Beyond Beef Plant-Based Ground 16oz Patties, marketed as containing "20g per serving" and "40% DV" for protein, actually contained 19g per serving through nitrogen testing, with merely 7% DV for protein.
The controversy extends beyond simple protein quantity measurements. According to federal regulations, companies must disclose both protein content and quality. The protein quality is determined using a sophisticated testing method called the Protein Digestibility Amino Acid Corrected Score (PDCAAS), which considers human protein digestibility factors.
Additional testing demonstrated that Beyond Meat's flagship products had varying PDCAAS scores. The Beyond Burger showed a PDCAAS score of 0.8875, consequently affecting its protein value claims. Based on this score, the actual protein daily value should be 35.49%, rather than the advertised 40%. Moreover, the Beyond Beefy Crumbles should display 20% DV instead of 26%, given its PDCAAS of 0.645.
The lawsuits allege that Beyond Meat was aware it wasn't following federal regulations for appropriate protein content testing methods. The legal documents suggest that the company "intentionally misrepresented" product quality claims and nature. Additionally, plaintiffs argue that consumers were misled into paying premium prices for products with overstated protein benefits.
Court Orders Beyond Meat to Pay $7.5M Settlement
The settlement agreement requires Beyond Meat to establish a $7.5 million class action settlement fund to provide consumer reimbursement to affected individuals. Subsequently, members of the settlement class who purchased Beyond Meat products during the specified class period can now file claims for compensation.
Under the terms of the settlement, consumers without proof of purchase can receive $2.00 for each Beyond Meat product purchased during the specified period, with a maximum limit of five items per household, totaling $10.00. This provision caters to class action settlement no proof scenarios. However, individuals who provide valid proof of purchase qualify for $2.00 per item without any cap on the total compensation amount.
The settlement encompasses a wide range of Beyond Meat products, particularly:
Plant-Based Dinner Links
Plant-Based Patties
Plant-Based Ground Beef
Beyond Breakfast Sausage Links
Breakfast Sausage Patties
Plant-Based Breaded Tenders
Italian Style Plant-Based Meatballs
To participate in the settlement, consumers must obtain a Class Member ID through the settlement website's registration page. After receiving their unique ID via email, claimants can submit their claim form either online or through a downloadable PDF form sent by mail. All claim forms must be submitted by April 14, 2025.