Judge Expands Injunction Covering Anheuser-Busch Corn Syrup Marketing
September 04 2019 - 2:29PM
Dow Jones News
By Micah Maidenberg
A federal judge expanded a preliminary injunction that forbids
Anheuser-Busch Cos. from using advertising that suggests there is
corn syrup in some of MillerCoors LLC's beers but none in its Bud
Light brand.
The expanded injunction will now also cover claims on packaging,
in addition to television, billboard and print marketing, according
to an order dated Wednesday by Judge William Conley of the U.S.
District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.
Judge Conley also said in the order that Anheuser-Busch may use
about 69.5 million Bud Light packages, valued at $27.7 million,
that use "no corn syrup" language and have a related graphic about
that ingredient printed on them.
But Anheuser-Busch must use packaging containing the corn syrup
messaging that it had on hand as of June 6 or until March 2 next
year, according to Judge Conley's order, whichever occurs
first.
"After that date, however, defendant shall remove the 'no corn
syrup' language and icon from its packaging until resolution of
this case or the preliminary injunction is lifted," Judge Conley
wrote.
MillerCoors sued Anheuser-Busch in March, claiming in the suit
an ad campaign from its competitor that tied Miller Lite and Coors
Light to corn syrup was false and misleading.
The company said then the marketing deceives consumers "into
believing that there is corn syrup and high-fructose corn syrup" in
those two brands.
"We look forward to defending our right to inform beer drinkers
of this fact at trial and on appeal," a spokesman for
Anheuser-Busch, part of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (BUD), said in a
statement.
"We are holding Bud Light accountable for its actions," Gavin
Hattersley, Chief Executive of MillerCoors, said in a
statement.
MillerCoors is the U.S. business for Canada brewer Molson Coors
Brewing Co. (TAP).
Write to Micah Maidenberg at micah.maidenberg@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
September 04, 2019 14:14 ET (18:14 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2019 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Anheuser Busch Inbev SA NV (NYSE:BUD)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
Anheuser Busch Inbev SA NV (NYSE:BUD)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024