Swiss chocolate maker Lindt & Sprüngli faces a legal controversy in the United States after a 2023 class action lawsuit accused the company of misleading consumers about its product quality. The lawsuit alleges that Lindt’s premium dark chocolate contains substantial levels of lead and cadmium, harmful heavy metals with known health risks.
The legal dispute arose following a 2022 Consumer Reports study that revealed alarmingly high levels of lead and cadmium in Lindt’s Excellence Dark Chocolate 85% Cocoa and Excellence Dark Chocolate 70% Cocoa. The study, which analyzed various dark chocolate brands, raised concerns about the long-term health risks of consuming chocolate with elevated metal content. Lindt, however, became the primary target of public backlash.
Lindt defended itself by stating that “lead and cadmium are unavoidable in the food supply” and maintained that the trace amounts in its products were within regulatory limits. The company also argued that phrases like “expertly crafted” and “finest ingredients” were promotional language, or “puffery,” not meant as literal guarantees. While this legal strategy aimed to dismiss the case, it instead fueled further criticism.