Berry marketer reassures Chinese consumers after US lawsuit sparks food safety concerns and has ripple effects on local retail market
Driscoll’s China has issued a statement to reassure Chinese consumers after allegations linked to a US lawsuit over pesticide residues triggered concern online and led some retailers to remove the company’s products from their shelves.
Discussions trended on Chinese social media after reports that consumers from several US states had filed a lawsuit against Driscoll’s in the US. The lawsuit cites an independent testing report by California-based consumer rights group Malaxation, which said it detected residues of 12 different pesticides – eight of which were identified as PFAS “forever chemicals” – in conventional Driscoll’s strawberries. The lawsuit accuses the company of greenwashing by marketing its products as environmentally friendly despite the alleged findings.
Driscoll’s US office has strongly denied the allegations, describing them as “without merit”. It said it maintains robust food safety and compliance programmes and rigorous standards that comply with all applicable US federal, state, and local regulations.
A second recent lawsuit concerns a former employee who filed a suit in June claiming wrongful termination after he allegedly raised concerns that Driscoll’s had knowledge it was selling produce that violated state and federal pesticide regulations, as well as Canadian food safety regulations. Again, Driscoll’s US office has denied the claims.
In its statement, Driscoll’s China said recent overseas reports reposted by some domestic media outlets and social platforms misrepresent the nature of the cases, the legal claims and the scope of application.
“One of the lawsuits does not allege that Driscoll’s or any independent grower supplying Driscoll’s violated US food safety requirements,” Driscoll’s China said.
“The other lawsuit is essentially a labour dispute, which is a legal matter of a different nature from the aforementioned lawsuit.”
“The company believes the allegations in the relevant lawsuits lack both factual and legal basis, and will actively defend the company’s legitimate rights, interests and corporate reputation through legal proceedings.”
Driscoll’s China emphasised that berries sold in the Chinese market are unrelated to the facts, parties or legal dispute in the US lawsuit.
It said that all berries sold in China strictly comply with relevant laws and regulations, including the Food Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Agricultural Product Quality Safety Law of the PRC.
Prompt action
Driscoll’s has taken prompt action in response to the public concern. It said it had increased the frequency of product sampling and testing on top of its already strict quality management system, confirming that all test results comply with relevant national food safety standards.
The company has also submitted a special report to government authorities and maintained close communication with customers and partners across all channels.
To counter misinformation on social media, it has commissioned professional legal counsel to conduct fact checking and prepare for legal defence to protect its rights in accordance with the law.
Some Driscoll’s-branded products have seen ripple effects from the episode in the retail market. A Global Times report on 21 July said the brand’s products were unavailable for purchase at Olé Supermarket and Yonghui Superstores.
A Sam’s Club’s representative told the publication that its system could not retrieve any products from the brand. On Freshippo, searches showed the brand’s blueberries remained in stock, while its raspberries and blackberries were marked as restocking and set to go on sale late on 22 July.
At Costco, the brand’s raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries were all marked as ‘restocking’.
Show of support
The statement from Driscoll’s China was rapidly and widely shared throughout the fresh fruit industry. Numerous growers, distributors, and supply chain partners forwarded the statement to show their support, calling on the industry to view the overseas litigation and related reports rationally and jointly maintain a fair and healthy agricultural market environment.
Having entered the Chinese market many years ago, Driscoll’s has established modern, high-standard plantations and quality control systems in Yunnan and other growing regions.
Its rigorous pesticide residue management and quality certification have long stood as a benchmark for the high-quality development of China’s berry industry.
