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In my seven years at the Daily News, I've bounced from covering the toy industry to crime to just about everything in between, at least for a day or two. Now, I'm going to try to learn about the next part of the legal system: courts and the justice system. Since my prior experience is limited to one trial, a few bankruptcy stories and serving on jury duty twice, we'll see how things go. Come check in from time to time and tell me how I'm doing.

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No! Not the yogurt!

I ran across this one early on the wire this morning. It seems that caterer Trish Weiner bought some Dannon yogurt and really didn't enjoy it. She blames bifidus regularis and L. casai immunitas. Dannon says the bacteria make you healthy. Weiner says they makes your mouth taste funny.
She wants a refund. And more than that, she wants a refund for everyone who bought the yogurt, which, as you'll see, adds up to a whole lotta cash.

A woman is suing the makers of Dannon yogurt, claiming the company overstates the health benefits of some of its products.
Trish Weiner alleges in her lawsuit, filed Wednesday in federal court in Los Angeles, that Dannon is engaging in a “massive and comprehensive” false advertising campaign for its DanActive, Activia and Activia Light yogurt lines.
Dannon claims the products can boost immunity and regulate digestion because of certain bacteria they contain. On its Web site, the company even references studies that it says support its claims.
But Weiner, who said she bought the products after seeing the advertising, said the bacteria aren’t so special.
“You’re hearing these scientific terms and you’re thinking that they have come up with something,” said Weiner, who owns a catering company. “But the only effect that it had on me was that it tasted poorly.”
Weiner wants class-action status for her suit — and wants Dannon to issue refunds to everyone in the United States who bought the products. An attorney for her said that could amount to as much as $300 million.
A spokesman for White Plains, N.Y.-based Dannon, a unit of France’s Groupe Danone, said Thursday that the company is reviewing the lawsuit.
“We stand by the claims of our products and the clinical studies that support them,” said Michael Neuwirth, Dannon’s senior director of public relations.
Dannon began marketing Activia and its “bifidus regularis” bacteria early 2006, with a woman in one ad recommending the yogurt to a friend to reduce bloating. The company launched DanActive a year later, claiming it contained “L. casai immunitas,” and was clinically proven to help improve the body’s immune system.
According to Brandweek magazine, sales of Activia grew 48% to $181.3 million in a year and DanActive sales rose 185% to $60 million.

I guess we'll see how that goes. Personally, I'm not too worried. I'm a Yoplait man, myself.

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