Select Milk Producers, Inc. Defends Class Action Alleging Aiding and Abetting False Advertising of “fairlife” Milk Products

Select Milk Producers, Inc., one of the largest dairy cooperatives in America, came to Faegre Drinker for defense in a class action pending in the Central District of California. The plaintiffs purchased “fairlife” branded milk products manufactured by our co-defendant fairlife, LLC, a subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Company. They allege that fairlife/Coca-Cola falsely advertised those products by asserting that (1) the milk in fairlife products came from humanely treated cows, and (2) fairlife bottles are readily recyclable. The plaintiffs’ only claim against Select Milk is that our client allegedly “aided and abetted” fairlife/Coca-Cola’s violations of California’s unfair competition and false advertising laws. They assert that some of the milk used in fairlife products came from Select farms where cows allegedly were mistreated. Our client disputes this.  The court granted Select Milk’s motion to dismiss on February 14, 2026.