Bought Breyers vanilla ice cream? You could be owed a refund. Here’s what to know

Breyers owes some ice cream lovers a refund.

The popular ice cream brand agreed to pay $8.85 million as part of a class-action settlement over “natural” flavors in its vanilla ice cream, court documents show.

Customers said they were duped by labeling on Breyers Natural Vanilla ice cream and led to believe the treat was only flavored with ingredients from the vanilla plant, according to the 15-page complaint.

Advertiser Conopco, Inc. and parent company Unilever were named as defendants.

They “falsely and misleadingly market Breyers Natural Vanilla Ice Cream to consumers as containing vanilla flavor derived only from the vanilla plant and not from non-vanilla plant sources,” the lawsuit reads. “Unfortunately for consumers, this is untrue.”

The defendants have denied any wrongdoing in the case.

McClatchy News reached out to Unilever, which is also the parent company of Conopco, for comment Tuesday, Oct. 1, and was awaiting a response.

Here’s how to claim your cut of the settlement:

Who’s eligible?

Customers who bought a carton of Breyers Natural Vanilla Ice Cream, in any size, between April 21, 2016, and Aug. 14, 2024, can file a claim, according to settlement administrators.

How do I file I claim?

Claim forms can be completed and submitted online or mailed before the Feb. 19, 2025, deadline, administrators said.

Only one claim form can be submitted per household.

How much is the refund?

Customers who submit a valid claim can get $1 for each carton of ice cream purchased.

Those with proof of purchase can claim an unlimited number of products, while those without proof of purchase are limited to eight products for a maximum $8 payout.

Refunds will be combined for customers who submit a claim with both proof of purchase and without proof of purchase, administrators said.

When when will I receive my refund?

Payments will go out if a court approves the settlement Nov. 21, administrators said. There may be appeals, however, and the process can be lengthy — sometimes more than a year.

“If you file a valid and timely Claim Form, you will not receive a cash payment until any appeals are resolved,” administrators said. “Please be patient.”

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