Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2026
Mondelez sues Catherine's Originals over O'bar shape
Lawsuit filed
Mondelez International filed a lawsuit against Catherine's Originals, alleging that the shape of the latter's O'bar chocolate range constitutes passing off and trademark infringement of the shape of Toblerone. Catherine's Originals disputes the allegations. The dispute concerns the claimed resemblance between the O'bar product shape and the Toblerone shape.
Mondelez International is suing Catherine's Originals, alleging that the shape of its O'bar chocolate range constitutes passing off and trademark infringement of Toblerone's shape. Catherine's Originals disputes the allegations.
Company response
Denial — Catherine's Originals
We strongly disagree with Kraft's claim against us and are working with our A* legal team to defend our position...
Denial — Catherine’s Originals
We strongly disagree with the claim concerning O’bar and are working with our legal team to defend our position.
Source excerpt
Mondelez International has accused the vegan company Catherine's Originals of 'passing off' and trademark infringement with its O'bar range.
We strongly disagree with Kraft's claim against us and are working with our A* legal team to defend our position...
Mondelez International has filed papers at London’s High Court accusing Catherine’s Originals of ‘passing off’ her bars with curved, semi-oval hump segments as replicas of Toblerones.
2026
Mondelēz sues Joyride over Sour Smacks design and packaging
Lawsuit filed
Mondelēz filed a lawsuit against Joyride in the Northern District of Illinois, alleging that Joyride's Sour Smacks candy design and packaging copy Sour Patch Kids' candy and packaging. Mondelēz is seeking an injunction and monetary damages. The source reports allegations, not a court determination.
Source excerpt
The food manufacturing giant is seeking permanent injunctive relief to stop the selling of Joyride’s “Sour Smacks” and monetary damages for financial losses.
Sour Patch Kids maker Mondelez filed a lawsuit accusing the candy company Joyride of copying its iconic candy design and packaging.
according to a lawsuit filed Monday in the Northern District of Illinois.
2024
European Union antitrust investigation
The European Commission announced an investigation into possible restrictions on cross-border trade of Mondelez products within the European Union.
2023
Additional cocoa child-labor complaint
International Rights Advocates filed another complaint involving allegations that Mondelez and other chocolate companies failed to eliminate the worst forms of child labor from cocoa sourcing.
2022
Child labor allegations in Cadbury cocoa supply chain
A British television investigation reported observing children working on cocoa farms in Ghana connected to the Cocoa Life supply system used for Cadbury-related sourcing.
2022
Criticism of continued Russian operations
Mondelez faced criticism and boycotts for continuing to operate in Russia after the invasion of Ukraine, despite stating that it had reduced non-core activity and halted new investment.
2021
Child-labor class-action lawsuit
Former child laborers from Mali filed a class-action complaint against Mondelez and other chocolate companies, alleging that the defendants benefited from or failed to prevent forced labor on cocoa plantations in Côte d’Ivoire.
2021
Mondelez sued over Fudge Covered Oreos labeling
Lawsuit filed
Mondelez was sued in the Southern District of New York over allegations that Fudge Covered Oreos were misleadingly labeled as containing fudge because the product uses vegetable oil-based fat instead of milkfat. The lawsuit centered on the labeling of the product and the claim that its description did not match its ingredients. The case was filed in 2021.
Source excerpt
The company faces allegations that its Fudge Covered Oreos are misleadingly labelled as containing fudge, allegedly not meaning a reasonable consumer’s definition of fudge.
Food giant Mondelez was sued in the Southern District of New York on Sunday.
According to the ingredients list of the Fudge Covered Oreos, the plaintiff claims, the product should not be labeled as containing fudge, as it uses vegetable oil-based fat instead of milkfat.
2020
Earth Island Institute sues companies over plastic packaging pollution in California
Lawsuit filed
Earth Island Institute filed a lawsuit in a California court against Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Nestle USA, Procter & Gamble and other companies, seeking unspecified damages and an order requiring them to clean up plastic waste. The group alleges that plastic packaging from the companies is fouling California waters and says their products contributed to a global pollution crisis; these are allegations in the lawsuit, not a court determination.
Stated objective. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and an order for the companies to clean up plastic waste.
Source excerpt
The Earth Island Institute asked for unspecified damages and an order for Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Nestle USA, Procter & Gamble and six other companies to clean up plastic waste that the group says has created a global pollution crisis.
Escalating a campaign to make corporations responsible for the waste they produce, an environmental group filed suit Wednesday against some of the world’s biggest food, beverage and consumer goods companies in a California court, arguing they should be held responsible for plastic packaging that is fouling the state's oceans, rivers and streams.
The suit names those companies, along with Nestle USA, Crystal Geyser Water, Clorox, Mars and Danone North America.
2019
Mondelēz recalls Cadbury Little Robins batches over undeclared almonds
Recall announced
Mondelēz International recalled batches of Cadbury's Dairy Milk Little Robins after they were found to contain almonds not listed on the label. Mondelēz said the incident resulted from a packaging error.
Company response
Recall — Mondelēz International
Mondelēz International has recalled batches of its Cadbury’s Dairy Milk Little Robins product after it was revealed that they contained almonds not mentioned on the label.
Source excerpt
The incident has occurred as a result of a “packaging error”, Mondelēz said
Mondelēz International has recalled batches of its Cadbury’s Dairy Milk Little Robins product after it was revealed that they contained almonds not mentioned on the label.
2019
Mondelēz recalls limited quantity of Cheese Nips
Recall announced
Mondelēz Global LLC announced a voluntary recall of a limited quantity of Cheese Nips 11 oz. boxes in the United States because of the potential presence of small food-grade yellow plastic pieces from a dough scraper. The company said no injuries or illnesses had been reported to date.
Source excerpt
There have been no reports of injury or illness reported to Mondelēz Global to date related to this product.
Mondelēz Global LLC announced today a voluntary recall of a limited quantity of Cheese Nips (11 oz. Box) product in the United States due to the potential presence of small food-grade yellow plastic pieces from a dough scraper that was incorporated into the production process of a small amount of product.
Company Announcement Date: November 15, 2019
2018
Palm-oil deforestation allegations
A Greenpeace investigation alleged that suppliers connected to Mondelez cleared substantial rainforest areas for palm oil during the period examined.
2017
Cocoa-related deforestation allegations
Investigations by environmental groups alleged that cocoa entering the supply chains of Mondelez and other chocolate companies was associated with illegal cultivation in protected areas of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.