Three Former Kraft Heinz Employees Claim Racial Discrimination & File $30M Suit

Former Kraft Heinz employees accuse the company of racism and allege racial hostility in the workplace.

The Case: Alex Horn, Lance Aytman, and Keith Hooker v. Kraft Heinz Foods Company LLC

The Court: United States District Court Eastern District of California

The Case No.: 1:21-at-00830

The Plaintiff: Hooker v. Kraft Heinz

Plaintiffs in the case are three formerKraft Heinz Foods Company employees: Alex Horn, Lance Aytman, and Keith Hooker. The three former employees filed a $30 million lawsuit alleging racial discrimination and hostility at the company’s Tulare, California dairy facility. The plaintiffs claim that between 2012 and 2018 they faced numerous forms of discrimination including death threats, regular use of racial slurs, vandalism of their personal property, etc. The plaintiffs allege that when they advised management of the situation, and asked management at the Kraft Heinz facility repeatedly to investigate the incidents, nothing was done. Allegedly, the discriminatory treatment continued, the trio were passed over for promotions they deserved, and eventually they ended up with less desirable job assignments, excessive scrutiny on the job, and unearned disciplinary action that forced them from their jobs and caused severe mental, emotional, and physical distress. By forcing them out of their jobs at the dairy facility, the plaintiffs also allege that Kraft Heinz broke their contracts illegally.

The Defendant: Hooker v. Kraft Heinz

The defendant, Kraft Heinz Foods Company LLC or Kraft Heinz, is a food and beverage limited liability corporation registered in Delaware and co-headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Kraft Heinz operates a number of manufacturing and packaging facilities across California, one of which is located in Tulare. The Tulare plant specializes in the production of dairy products, including a variety of cheeses. During the plaintiffs’ time of employment, the Tulare Plant employed a few hundred workers (temporary and permanent workers combined).

More About the Case: Hooker v. Kraft Heinz

The defendant, Kraft Heinz, said that since the reporting of these incidents in 2018, there have been no other reported allegations of racism, discrimination or harassment at the Tulare facility. The company claims that they are dedicated to creating diverse, inclusive workplaces, and have a zero tolerance policy for discrimination or harassment. In connection to the specific 2018 allegations at the Tulare plant, the company’s spokesperson indicated that the allegations were several years old, and that the company undertook an extensive investigation as soon as they were made aware, including cooperating with local law enforcement - all in order to ensure that any behavior that violated company policies was discovered, and if it was, that it was stopped.

If you need to discuss violations of California state law or if you need to file a California class action lawsuit, please get in touch with Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik DeBlouw LLP. Experienced employment law attorneys are ready to assist you in any one of various law firm offices located in San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Riverside, and Chicago.