Infant formula charges In 1988 CEO Michael Potter was charged and later served 30 days in jail on misdemeanor charges for misrepresenting Edensoy soy milk as an infant formula. The suit was brought after a Canadian infant developed a rare eye and bone disorder as a result of vitamin deficiency from being fed the product. The child's physician later reported the patient to have "completely recovered".
Employee healthcare In March 2013, Eden Foods filed suit against the Obama administration seeking an exemption from the mandate to cover contraception for its employees under the
Affordable Care Act. According to the company's CEO Michael Potter, providing access to any form of contraceptives would violate his beliefs as a Catholic. (This stance against all types of birth control differs from Hobby Lobby's refusal to cover several types of contraception.) Eden Foods lost its suit in both the District Court and the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals (
Eden v. Sebelius), and appealed to the Supreme Court. The
Burwell v. Hobby Lobby decision by the
US Supreme Court on 30 June 2014 overrules the lower courts. The next day, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case,
Eden Foods v. Burwell. In response, some customers urged a boycott of the company on popular
liberal websites, as well as the company's own
Facebook page.
Trademark infringement lawsuit In October 2021, Eden Foods, Inc. filed suit against Eden Burger Ltd., a single-location vegan burger restaurant located on the campus of the Ohio State University, alleging infringement of Eden Foods's trademark on the word "Eden." Notably, although the Eden Foods, Inc. complaint notes Eden Foods's possession of trademarks on the word "Eden" for use in conjunction with the sale of numerous prepackaged food products, it does not appear to claim that Eden Foods possesses a trademark on the word "Eden" in the context of restaurants and catering.
Sexual harassment lawsuit In April 2022, the
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed suit against the owner/president of Eden Foods for repeatedly harassing female workers and ignoring complaints about his behavior. In Fall of 2023, Eden Foods was ordered to pay more than $182,500 in the settlement of the suit. ==See also==