Sun-Maid Fails to Avoid Class Claims Over Yogurt-Covered Raisins

Sun-Maid Growers of California must face a proposed class action alleging that, in spite of its advertisements to the contrary, some of its raisins aren’t actually covered in yogurt as defined by US Food and Drug Administration regulations.

Although the state law claims against the company “parallel duties owed under federal law,” they survive preemption because the allegations are “rooted” in California law and aren’t an attempt to “privately enforce federal labeling laws,” Chief Judge Cynthia A. Bashant of the US District Court for the Southern District of California said in a Tuesday order.

FDA regulations say products labeled ...