Israeli Court Approves Class Action Against Golda Ice Cream for Mislabeling Sugar Content

The Central District Court in Israel approved a class action lawsuit against Anita Glida, operator of the Golda ice cream chain, for selling ice creams labeled "sugar-free" that contained lactose sugar at levels 13 times above the legal limit. The lawsuit estimates damages at approximately 350 million shekels for consumers who purchased these products over the past seven years. Golda has since ceased production of the mislabeled ice creams.

Laboratory tests submitted with the lawsuit revealed that the "sugar-free" hazelnut and coffee flavored ice creams contained 6.6 grams of lactose per 100 grams, exceeding the regulatory threshold of 0.5 grams per 100 grams allowed for sugar-free labeling. Judge Iris Rabinovitz Baron ruled that there is a reasonable possibility the claim of consumer deception will be upheld, emphasizing that sugar content is a material factor for buyers of sugar-free ice cream in a chain where most products are not sugar-free.

The lawsuit was filed two years ago, and mediation attempts before retired Judge Prof. Yoram Danziger failed. The ice cream chain admitted to marketing products labeled "sugar-free" that contained lactose, a naturally occurring milk sugar, but argued that the term was commonly understood to mean no added sugar and did not constitute consumer deception. The court rejected this defense, stating that the reasonable interpretation of "sugar-free" could mislead consumers.

The class includes all customers who bought Golda or Anita sugar-free ice cream in the last seven years, whether in stores or online. Since the products are no longer sold, the judge recommended settlement talks. Attorney Or Yarkoni, representing the plaintiff, stressed that businesses must ensure their product descriptions accurately reflect reality and cannot shift the burden of clarity onto consumers. The case was approved on grounds of consumer deception, statutory violations, negligence, and unjust enrichment under Israeli consumer protection laws.