Walmart Wins False-Ad Appeal Over Glucosamine Supplement Labels

Consumers can’t advance a lawsuit alleging Walmart Inc. and a vitamin maker mislabeled a glucosamine supplement, because federal food labeling law blocks the state-law claims, a divided Ninth Circuit affirmed Thursday.

The consumers’ chemistry expert didn’t use the federally mandated testing method to show that Walmart used an allegedly ineffective active ingredient in its product, instead of the two named on the label, the appeals court said.

Darlene Hollins and three other purchasers of Walmart’s Spring Valley Glucosamine Sulfate sued Walmart and the manufacturer, International Vitamin Corp., on behalf of a proposed class.

The product was identified on the packaging ...