SUPPLEMENT · Est. 2001
Danone paid $550M for Vega's plant-based cred — formula changes noted post-acquisition
ORIGIN STORY
Brendan Brazier, a professional Ironman triathlete, created Vega as a plant-based performance nutrition brand. Acquired by WhiteWave (then Danone).
PARENT VIOLATIONS · $42.0M IN FINES
FDA warning letter — Warning letter to Danone North America: manufacturing CGMP violations at Springfield, MO yogurt facility; inadequate equipment cleaning procedures (2021)
EU regulatory action — EU RASFF notification: Chlorpyrifos pesticide residue detected in Activia yogurt ingredients above EU limits. EU banned chlorpyrifos in January 2020 (Regulation (EU) 2020/17); EPA began stricter restrictions in US but chlorpyrifos still found in supply chains. Danone markets Activia for digestive health. (2021)
FTC action — FTC settles with Dannon over misleading Activia probiotic health claims. Claims that products relieve irregularity and prevent colds not substantiated. Largest FTC food advertising settlement at the time. · $21.0M (2010)
FDA warning letter — Warning letter to The Dannon Company (Danone): unsubstantiated probiotic health claims on Activia yogurt and DanActive dairy drinks; misleading immunity and digestive benefit claims (2010)
FTC action — FTC action against Dannon (Danone) for deceptive advertising: claimed Activia yogurt relieves irregularity and that DanActive dairy drink prevents colds and flu; claims not supported by competent evidence; required to stop making unsubstantiated probiotic health claims · $21.0M (2010)
71 FDA Recall(s) on record