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Hellmann's Unveils Its Own Eggless Spread After Mayonnaise Spat

Hellmann's announced that its Carefully Crafted Dressing & Sandwich Spread would debut later this month.

In late 2014, the owner of Hellmann's mayonnaise asked a federal court to rule that its product must contain eggs.

Some 15 months later, Hellmann's announced plans debut its own eggless spread.

Unilever sued California startup Hampton Creek in November 2014 over its "Just Mayo" sandwich spread. The lawsuit — which was later withdrawn — accused the company of false advertising because its name implied that the product was mayonnaise despite its lack of eggs.

In August, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration sent Hampton Creek a warning letter indicating that mayonnaise must contain eggs.

Hampton Creek officials responded that the standard for mayonnaise shouldn't apply to the word "mayo," and the company reached a deal with the FDA to tweak its label but keep the brand name.

On Tuesday, Hellmann's announced that its Carefully Crafted Dressing & Sandwich Spread would debut later this month on store shelves nationwide.

The company, however, said that the announcement — which also introduced a line of organic mayonnaise — was a response to consumer demand and not to "Just Mayo."

In addition to increasing preferences for plant-based products, Hellmann's officials noted that some customers have dietary restrictions or food allergies.

"Our fans have been asking us for organic and eggless options with the creamy taste of Hellmann's for years," said marketing director Russel Lilly.

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