Tyson Foods Inc. has agreed to settle a lawsuit that accused the poultry giant of misleading consumers with labels claiming its chickens were “raised without antibiotics.”
Under the proposed settlement, Springdale, Ark.-based Tyson would pay up to $50 to anyone who bought the wrongly labeled poultry.
The total value of the settlement is $5 million, not including $3 million in attorneys’ fees. If Tyson doesn’t give that much money back to consumers, it will donate the difference to food banks.
Attorneys for the plaintiffs and for Tyson have asked a federal judge in Baltimore to grant preliminary approval to the settlement on Friday. At that point, Tyson would begin a national print and Internet advertising campaign to let people know how they can claim their refunds.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
