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PepsiCo beats New York state's 'predatory' claim over plastics contamination

PepsiCo won the dismissal of New york city's suit accusing the drink and snackfood business of polluting the environment with singleuse plastic packaging, as the judge slammed the state's lawyer basic, Letitia James, for bringing the case. Justice Emilio Colaiacovo of the state Supreme Court in Buffalo said on Thursday that James failed to show PepsiCo created a. public annoyance and must have warned consumers about the. health and ecological risks of plastics in more than 100 of. its brand names. James took legal action against PepsiCo and its FritoLay unit last November, seeking. to hold them accountable for endangering Buffalo's water supply by. creating 17% of the plastic waste found in and near the. Buffalo River. She also said the offenders tricked the public. about their efforts to eliminate plastics pollution.

However the judge ruled it would run contrary to every standard of. established jurisprudence to punish PepsiCo, since it was. individuals, not the company, who overlooked laws forbiding littering. He likewise said James, a Democrat, disregarded a 2003 appeals court's. refusal to hold Sturm Ruger responsible when lawbreakers use its. pistols and risk opening the floodgates to public problem. lawsuits. James' predecessor, Eliot Spitzer, brought that case.

While I can consider no affordable person who does not. believe in the imperatives of recycling and being better. stewards of our environment, this does not trigger phantom. assertions of liability that do nothing to solve the problem. that exists, composed Colaiacovo, a Republican.

The judicial system needs to not be burdened with predatory. suits that look for to enforce punishment while looking for a. crime, he added.

James' office did not immediately react to ask for. comment on Friday.

PepsiCo, based in Purchase, New york city, stated it was pleased. with the choice, and serious about plastics reduction and. efficient recycling.

Our time, attention and resources-- and those of other key. stakeholders-- are best directed towards collective. solutions, it included.

James' lawsuit is among numerous by state and city governments. and ecological groups versus companies that utilize plastics. Colaiacovo ruled one day after Los Angeles County submitted a. similar lawsuit versus PepsiCo and Coca-Cola over their. single-use plastic product packaging.

PepsiCo's brands include Cheetos, Cracker Jack, Doritos,. Fritos, Gatorade, Lay's, Lipton, Mountain Dew, Ocean Spray,. Pepsi, Quake, Ruffles and Tostitos.

The case is New york city v. PepsiCo Inc et al, New York State. Supreme Court, Erie County, No. 814682/2023.

(source: Reuters)