REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies PepsiCo Inc FollowNEW YORK, Nov 15 (Reuters) - New York state sued PepsiCo (PEP.O) on Wednesday, accusing the beverage and snack food giant of polluting the environment and endangering public health through its single-use plastic bottles, caps and wrappers.
The lawsuit filed in state court in upstate Erie County is among the first by a U.S. state to target a major plastics producer.
"All New Yorkers have a basic right to clean water, yet PepsiCo's irresponsible packaging and marketing endanger Buffalo’s water supply, environment, and public health," she said in a statement.
The New York lawsuit also said PepsiCo has deceived consumers by announcing various targets to reduce the amount of non-recycled plastic it uses in packaging, although it has actually increased its usage.
The lawsuit seeks to force the Purchase, New York-based company to stop causing a nuisance, clean up contamination and pay for damages caused by plastic waste.
Persons:
Shannon Stapleton, Letitia James, PepsiCo, James, Jack, Doritos, Judith Enck, Obama, Clark Mindock, Jonathan Stempel, Chizu Nomiyama, Jonathan Oatis, Alexia Garamfalvi
Organizations:
Pepsi, REUTERS, PepsiCo, The New, Gatorade, Lay's, Plastics, Environmental Protection Agency, Thomson
Locations:
New York, U.S, Erie County, Buffalo, The New York, , New York, Fritos, Lipton, Connecticut, Minnesota, . California