Makers of Best Foods Mayonnaise Sues Vegan Mayo Company

Multi-national food company Unilever, manufacturers of brands like Best Foods and Hellmann’s mayonnaise, is suing San Francisco-based Hampton Creek over its Just Mayo vegan mayonnaise. Claiming it can’t be “real” mayonnaise because “it does not include any egg,” Unilever’s complaint demands that the vegan company stop using the “Just Mayo” name, that all product is removed from store shelves, and that they are entitled to Hampton Creek’s profits plus lawyer’s fees and damages. According to the lawsuit, Unilever cites a 1957 regulation that mayonnaise should include “egg yolk-containing ingredients” and that “Hampton Creek is seizing market share from Unilever’s Best Foods and Hellmann’s brands of mayonnaise products.” A Change.org petition has been started by celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern to generate support for Hampton Creek.