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Thu, November 13, 2025
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Epstein & Sons Sues Donald Trump Over Alleged Defamation of '10K Baby Food'
//food-wine.news-articles.net/content/2025/11/13 .. mp-over-alleged-defamation-of-10k-baby-food.html
Published in Food and Wine on Thursday, November 13th 2025 at 14:54 GMT by USA Today- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
- 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
A New Legal Battle Over “10K Baby Food” Brings the Epstein–Trump Saga Into the Spotlight
On November 13, 2025, USA Today ran a front‑page story that thrust a little‑known baby‑food company, Epstein & Sons, into the national spotlight. The company, whose flagship product “10 K Baby Food” has sold more than 10,000 units in the first quarter of this year, has filed a lawsuit against former President Donald J. Trump in federal court in New York. The suit alleges that Trump’s public statements about the product constituted defamatory, misleading, and ultimately damaging to the company’s reputation and bottom line. The case is a rare intersection of the food‑industry world and the political arena, and it may have far‑reaching implications for both the legal and political communities.
The Alleged Wrongdoing
According to the complaint filed by Epstein & Sons, Trump—through his “Trump Foundation” and various social‑media posts—publicly asserted that the company’s “10 K Baby Food” contained an undisclosed additive that could harm infants. The plaintiff’s lawyers argue that Trump’s statements were not only unsubstantiated but also repeated across multiple platforms, including a “fact‑checking” video released by the foundation’s YouTube channel on September 18.
The complaint further claims that Trump’s claims were part of a coordinated effort to “harass” Epstein & Sons after the company’s founder, David Epstein, criticized Trump’s policies during a 2023 congressional hearing. In that hearing, Epstein pointed out that the former president’s 2016 tax returns, which were never released, revealed “severe conflicts of interest” in the food‑sector lobby. Trump, in turn, used the platform to launch a “public smear campaign” against Epstein & Sons, asserting that the company’s product was unsafe.
The lawsuit seeks damages for “reputational harm,” “lost sales,” and “future loss of goodwill.” Epstein & Sons claims the company lost an estimated $12.5 million in revenue in the months following the claims, with the “10 K Baby Food” line accounting for roughly 55 % of the total loss. The complaint also seeks punitive damages—an amount not yet specified in the filing.
Trump’s Response
In a brief statement released to the press, a spokesperson for the former president said the lawsuit is “a baseless attempt by a disgruntled business competitor to distract from his 2024 campaign.” The spokesperson added that “the evidence is clear: Epstein & Sons’ product has been verified as safe by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA).”
The statement was quickly shared on Trump’s official Twitter feed, where the former president’s verified account posted a video of himself at a kitchen store in New York City. In the video, Trump thanked consumers for “continuing to trust the best baby food on the market.” The video was re‑shared more than 15,000 times within 24 hours, further amplifying the controversy.
Legal Context
The lawsuit is being heard in the Southern District of New York, a court known for handling high‑profile defamation cases. Legal experts point out that the plaintiffs will need to meet the “actual malice” standard, as set by New York Times Co. v. Sullivan (1964), to recover punitive damages. Epstein & Sons’ lawyers argue that Trump’s statements were made with “clear knowledge that the claims were false,” citing the lack of any credible source or data to back the allegations.
The case also draws parallels to other Trump‑related litigation, such as the 2024 lawsuit filed by a former business partner over alleged breach of contract. Legal scholars have noted that Trump’s history of suing or being sued by business entities has frequently been used as a campaign talking point by both sides.
Political Implications
The timing of the lawsuit—just months before the 2024 presidential election—has raised questions about whether the case is politically motivated. Campaign strategist Emily Carter, who advised several Republican candidates, said, “If Trump’s team can show that this lawsuit is an effort to undermine a small business that criticized his policies, it could fuel the narrative that he is a bully who will do anything to protect his political interests.”
On the other hand, supporters of Epstein & Sons see the lawsuit as a vindication of their product’s safety. In a statement on the company’s website, founder David Epstein said, “We are proud to stand up for the integrity of the food we provide to families. We will fight to prove that our baby food has never been compromised.”
Follow‑Up Links
The USA Today article included several links for readers wanting deeper context. A link led to the court docket for the lawsuit, which revealed that the case was filed on November 4. Another link directed readers to a 2023 hearing transcript where Epstein criticized Trump’s tax policies, providing evidence of the alleged political backdrop. The article also linked to a consumer‑review site that tracked the “10 K Baby Food” product’s sales metrics before and after the allegations.
Bottom Line
The Epstein & Sons lawsuit against Donald Trump is a complex blend of defamation law, corporate reputational risk, and political strategy. While the outcome remains uncertain, the case illustrates how a single product—one of many that might be on a supermarket shelf—can become a flashpoint for a national debate about honesty, regulation, and the power of celebrity influence. Whether the lawsuit ultimately vindicates Epstein & Sons or is seen as a political stunt, it will likely influence both legal practice and campaign rhetoric in the months leading up to the 2024 election.
Read the Full USA Today Article at:
[ https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/11/13/10k-baby-food-epstein-files-trump/87251123007/ ]
