Dannon to pay $21M, drop some yogurt health claims

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Dannon Co. Inc. has agreed pay $21 million and drop some health claims for its Activia yogurt and DanActive dairy drink in settlements with state and federal regulators.

The food company has claimed that beneficial bacteria in its Activia yogurt helps relieve irregularity and that its DanActive drink helps people avoid catching colds or the flu.

The Federal Trade Commission said today there is not enough evidence to back those claims. It announced that it has reached a settlement with the company that prohibits it from making such claims unless they are approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

The attorneys general from 39 states also announced today that they've reached a $21 million settlement with the food maker over the marketing claims. This case, led by attorney generals in Oregon and Tennessee, represents the largest attorney general consumer protection multistate settlement ever reached with a food producer.