Litigation
CSPI’s litigators file cases and negotiate with companies to seek better food labeling, more honest marketing, and reforms that benefit consumers.
Case Highlight
Research Censorship at NIH
On Sep. 16, 2026, CSPI’s Litigation Department and its co-counsel at the ACLU, Protect Democracy, and Jacobson Lawyers Group sued the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the US DOGE Service (DOGE), challenging NIH’s ideologically driven censorship and termination of biomedical research grants.
Case Highlight
EpicGenetics: Laboratory-Developed Tests
In October 2023, CSPI filed a lawsuit against EpicGenetics alleging that its claims about its laboratory developed tests for fibromyalgia and “Immune Deficiency Disease” are false and misleading.
Our cases
Research Censorship at NIH
On Sep. 16, 2026, CSPI’s Litigation Department and its co-counsel at the ACLU, Protect Democracy, and Jacobson Lawyers Group sued the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the US DOGE Service (DOGE), challenging NIH’s ideologically driven censorship and termination of biomedical research grants.
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Coverage for FDA-Approved Contraceptives: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit amicus brief
CSPI’s Litigation Department took a stand for scientific integrity and public health, filing an amicus brief to challenge a Trump Administration Rule that threatens to deny tens of thousands of women access to FDA-approved contraceptives under their employer-sponsored health plans.
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NIH Grants Termination
CSPI’s Litigation Department and its co-counsel at the ACLU and Protect Democracy Project sued the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), challenging the new policy that led to the abrupt and unlawful cancellation of research grants and the halt of the application process for new grants. Also joining as co-counsel is Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP.
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FDA’s Laboratory-Developed Tests Final Rule: District Court Amicus Brief
In November 2024, CSPI filed an amicus brief in the Eastern District of Texas supporting the FDA’s Final Rule expanding oversight over LDTs.
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Contaminated Poppy Seeds: FDA
On May 8, 2024, CSPI sued FDA to compel a decision on a maximum limit of opiate alkaloid contamination of poppy seeds. CSPI, represented by CSPI’s litigation department, alleged that FDA’s failure to act on the more than 3-year-old petition seeking to protect consumers from contaminated poppy seeds violates the Administrative Procedure Act.
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Mifepristone: U.S. Supreme Court Amicus Brief
Public Citizen and CSPI, represented by Public Citizen Litigation Group, filed an amicus brief at the U.S. Supreme Court on January 30, 2024, supporting FDA’s decision to increase access to the approved drug mifepristone, a safe and effective medication used to terminate early pregnancies.
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Back to Nature: 'Whole Wheat' Crackers
CSPI’s Litigation Department is co-counsel in a class action lawsuit against Back to Nature alleging it misleads consumers about the whole grain content of its crackers.
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EpicGenetics: Laboratory-Developed Tests
CSPI’s lawsuit alleges that EpicGenetics makes false and misleading claims about its laboratory-developed tests intended to diagnose fibromyalgia and “Immune Deficiency Disease.”
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Alcohol labeling: TTB
CSPI's lawyers and co-counsel sued the TTB and Treasury Department to compel a decision on mandatory alcohol content, calorie, ingredient, and allergen labeling on alcoholic beverages.
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Phthalates: FDA
In December 2021, CSPI along with a coalition of health advocacy groups filed two related lawsuits seeking to force FDA to decide whether to ban twenty-eight phthalates in food packaging and processing materials.
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HHS sunset rule
CSPI's lawyers and co-counsel filed a lawsuit that seeks to reverse the Trump-era Sunset Rule and prevent the substantial harm it would cause to public health.
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San Francisco sugary drink warning
CSPI and other public health groups submitted an amicus brief in support of San Francisco in litigation brought against its proposed sugary drink warning.
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Grains of Paradise food safety: Bacardi
CSPI and other public interest groups submitted an amicus brief arguing that states may adopt stricter food safety laws than the federal government.
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Ginkgo Biloba: Costco and NBTY
CSPI is co-counsel in a class action lawsuit against Costco and NBTY, Inc. for misleading brain health claims on their ginkgo biloba dietary supplement.
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School foods: USDA
CSPI and another non-profit organization brought suit to stop the weakening of nutrition standards for school meals by USDA.
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FDA: Cancer-causing flavor additives
CSPI and other groups filed a lawsuit seeking to force FDA to decide whether to prohibit seven cancer-causing chemicals.
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The Coca-Cola Company and the American Beverage Association
CSPI was co-counsel in a lawsuit against the Coca-Cola Company and the American Beverage Association contending that they misled the public about the health harms related to sugary drinks.
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Menu labeling delay
CSPI and another organization filed a lawsuit challenging the FDA’s delay in implementing the menu labeling requirements.
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Secret GRAS rule
CSPI and other groups filed a lawsuit challenging a FDA rule that permits companies to self-certify chemical additives used in food as safe without any notice to the agency or the public.
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Quorn products
CSPI filed an amicus objection to the proposed settlement of a class action accusing Quorn of deceptive marketing.
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Naked Juice: PepsiCo
CSPI's lawyers and co-counsel filed a lawsuit against PepsiCo claiming that its Naked Juice line of beverages is marketed and labeled in a false and misleading manner.
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NYC sodium warning
CSPI joined in an amicus brief in support of NYC in litigation brought against its proposal to require sodium warning icons on chain restaurant menus.
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Cheez-It Whole Grain Crackers
CSPI's lawyers and co-counsel filed a class-action lawsuit against Kellogg claiming that it misleadingly labeled its Cheez-It Whole Grain crackers.
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CVS: Algal-900 DHA
CSPI's lawyers and co-counsel filed a class-action lawsuit against CVS for false and misleading advertising of its Algal-900 DHA supplement.
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Cheerios protein: General Mills
CSPI's lawyers and co-counsel filed a lawsuit alleging that General Mills falsely and misleadingly marketed Cheerios Protein as a high-protein and healthful alternative to original Cheerios.
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Infant Foods: Plum Organics
CSPI's lawyers and co-counsel sent a demand letter to Plum Organics concerning misleading labeling of infant food products.
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