Bush-Era Organic Scandal Ends in $7.5 Million Settlement

What has been billed the largest scandal in the history of the organic industry has now resulted in a court settlement on behalf of consumers against Aurora Dairy, a giant factory-farm operator with industrial-scale operations in Colorado and Texas. Aurora has agreed to pay plaintiffs in a class-action consumer fraud lawsuit $7.5 million to end litigation involving fraudulent marketing claims concerning organic milk. Aurora and its major customers — supermarket chains selling private-label organic milk, including Pleasanton-based Safeway — were accused of misrepresenting the authenticity of their products.