'Italy's Number 1 brand of pasta', Barilla, is being sued after customers discovered that the company's products are actually made in Iowa and New York.
A lawsuit against the company claims that Barilla has been misleading customers to believe that their pasta was being produced in Italy.
On Monday (17 October), a federal judge refused Barilla's motion to dismiss the lawsuit, agreeing that the company's slogan 'Italy's Number 1 brand of pasta', accompanied by the red, white, and green colours of the Italian flag, could mislead consumers.
As part of the class action lawsuit, plaintiffs are calling for Barilla to stop using the Italian flag's likeness on their packaging and marketing, and are seeking financial compensation, claiming that they overpaid for pasta they believed was from Italy.
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The lawsuit originated from customers Matthew Sinatro and Jessica Prost, who claim they bought multiple boxes of Barilla's angel hair pasta and spaghetti, and were under the impression that it was made in Italy.
However, upon further investigation, they discovered that Barilla doesn't exclusively use Italian wheat in its products, and were manufactured in the United States, even though the packaging would suggest that Barilla provided customers with authentic Italian pasta.
Prosecutors also complained that Barilla's marketing gives their brand an unfair advantage over 'lawfully acting competitors'.
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However, if you go onto the official Barilla Pasta website, the company are actually pretty clear about all of this.
They write: "Barilla Pasta that is sold in the United States is made in our plants in Ames, IA and Avon, NY, with a few exceptions. Barilla Tortellini and Barilla Oven Ready Lasagne are made in Italy. Our Barilla Italy products state 'Product of Italy, Distributed by Barilla America, Inc.' on the packaging."
The company goes on to explain that the Barilla family, who established their food company back in 1877, were 'very concerned about maintaining Barilla's high quality standards in the new plant'.
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Because of this, the machines used in their Ames, Iowa and Avon, New York production plants are the same ones used in their plant in Parma, Italy.
Addressing the question of where their wheat comes from, the website explains: "The recipe and the wheat blend are the same as that used in Parma, Italy. Barilla purchases its wheat from around the world, ending up with the best wheat available."
UNILAD has approached representatives for Barilla for comment.
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Topics: Food and Drink, US News
Ali Condon