U.S. sugar producers and makers of high-fructose corn syrup resolved a four-year court fight over dueling accusations they misled consumers about the risks and benefits of their sweeteners.
Terms of the settlement weren’t disclosed Friday following two weeks of trial in Los Angeles federal court.
“The parties continue their commitments to practices that encourage safe and healthful use of their products, including moderation in the consumption of table sugar, high fructose corn syrup and other sweeteners,” the companies said in a joint statement.
The lawsuit pitted corn syrup makers Archer-Daniels Midland Co. and Cargill Inc. against sugar producers including American Sugar Refining Inc., which calls itself the world’s largest vertically integrated cane-sugar refiner and whose labels include C&H and Domino.
The settlement comes halfway through a jury trial in which the sugar producers sought as much as $1.6 billion in damages. That’s how much they claim corn refiners made by advertising that corn syrup is natural and nutritionally equivalent, plus what sugar producers said they had to spend to counter these claims.
ADM, Cargill and their co-defendants in turn sought $531 million for damages they say they suffered from the sugar group “preying upon consumers’ food fears.” The corn refiners argued there was no scientific proof for reports linking corn syrup to obesity, which surged in the 1970s but has continued to increase as corn syrup consumption has fallen.
Jackie Anderson, a spokeswoman for ADM, declined to comment beyond the joint statement.
American Sugar Refining didn’t immediately respond to an e- mail seeking comment.
Representatives of Cargill couldn’t be immediately reached for comment.
The case is Western Sugar Cooperative v. Archer-Daniels- Midland Co., 11-03473, U.S. District Court, Central District of California (Los Angeles).
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