Press Release

Alaska Joins in Settlement in Dannon Advertising Case

December 16, 2010

Anchorage, Alaska - The State of Alaska is among more than three dozen states that have jointly filed settlements with The Dannon Company, Inc., regarding deceptive advertising for its Activia and DanActive products.

The company will make a $21 million payment, the largest ever in a multistate settlement with a food producer related to consumer protection. Alaska's share will be $425,000.

The Federal Trade Commission also filed a settlement with Dannon today.

The attorneys general alleged that Dannon made unlawful health claims about Activia yogurt and DanActive, a yogurt drink, that were not substantiated by reliable scientific evidence.

The settlement terms limit the claims that Dannon can make regarding the covered products. Specifically, Dannon may not represent that the covered products can prevent, treat, cure or mitigate disease. Additionally, Dannon must possess competent and reliable scientific evidence to support otherwise permissible claims about the health benefits, performance, efficacy or safety of its probiotic food products.

Dannon is not admitting any wrongdoing and denies the allegations asserted by the attorneys general. Dannon cooperated with the multistate investigation.

Consumers can file complaints about false advertising claims or other unfair trade practices with the Consumer Protection Unit of the Alaska Attorney General's Office. For more information about the Dannon settlement, contact Assistant Attorney General Cynthia Drinkwater at 907-269-5200.

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Department Media Contacts: Communications Director Patty Sullivan at patty.sullivan@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6368. Information Officer Sam Curtis at sam.curtis@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6269.