Quaker Oats Sheds False-Ad Suit Alleging Pesticide Contamination

Quaker Oats Co. convinced a federal judge to dismiss a proposed class action alleging it deceptively advertised whole grain oat products as healthy despite the presence of a chemical pesticide that can cause health problems.

The consumers who sued cited a peer-reviewed study from the nonprofit Environmental Working Group showing that the pesticide chlormequat is found in certain oat-based foods in the US. But its amount in the products at issue in the case is significantly below levels set by the US Environmental Protection Agency, the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois said Tuesday.

• Chlormequat is banned ...