Marico case against Adani Wilmar's Fortune oil dismissed

Marico had alleged disparagement of its Saffola brand through campaigns made by Adani's Fortune oil on TV and in print

The Delhi High Court today dismissed applications filed by Marico Limited, makers of Saffola, against edible oil company Adani Wilmar, which makes Fortune refined oil. According to a press release issued by Adani Wilmar today, Marico had alleged disparagement of its products under the brand Saffola through the campaigns made by Fortune on television and in print media. Marico had instituted two suits before the Delhi High Court against Adani Wilmar in this connection.

Adani Wilmar's television campaigns had claimed that rice bran oil is the healthiest oil in the world for its cholesterol-reducing attributes. The release says the comparison advertisement through print media has shown that the quantity of oryzanol in Fortune Rice Bran oil is much higher than the amount present in leading brands like Saffola Gold and Sundrop Heart. Oryzanol is a cholesterol-reducing natural anti-oxidant.

In the verdict dismissing Marico's application, an electronic copy of which is available with Business Standard, the High Court has pointed out that Marico had nowhere challenged the benefits of Oryanol as claimed by Adani Wilmar. It asl stated, "The promotion of a robust market for trade and commerce requires that the Courts grant some latitude to the advertisers in designing and crafting their pitch to the consumers..."

Welcoming the High Court's ruling, Angshu Mallick, COO, Adani Wilmar, claimed that the benefits of rice bran oil are proven and are supported by numerous research papers published worldwide. He said even the Government of India’s paper presented in the eighteenth session of Codex Committee on Fats and Edible Oils details the tremendous health potential that rice bran oil has.