“Kosher” Label on Hummus Challenged

A kosher certification organization has filed a lawsuit alleging International Food Products Inc., which does business as Sabra Foods, misleads consumers as to whether its hummus products are kosher. Rabbinical Council of Mass. v. Int’l Food Products, Inc., No. 22-11460 (D. Mass., Boston Div., filed September 9, 2022). The Rabbinical Council of Massachusetts, or KVH Kosher, previously certified Sabra as kosher but revoked its license in 2016 for “non-payment of fees, for adding new ingredients to their products without informing KVH, and for failing to take corrective actions in a timely manner as required by KVH.” In addition to trademark allegations, KVH asserts that Sabra’s continued use of the mark harms consumers who eat kosher.

“KVH’s Mark on Sabra’s products caused a reasonable consumer to believe the products sold by Sabra with KVH’s mark are kosher, kosher for Passover or pareve, or prepared in accordance with orthodox Jewish religious standards,” the complaint alleges. “Sabra’s infringing and deceitful acts have caused and continue to cause substantial and irreparable injury to kosher and non-kosher food consumers, who unknowingly purchased their products that had not been certified as kosher by KVH, believing those products to be so certified, resulting in potential violations of those consumers’ religious and/or dietary beliefs, as well as their personal dietary choices. Additionally, the consumption of food products from Sabra could have large health ramifications for consumers who eat kosher foods due to health reasons.”