HOUSTON - The Texas Beef Council has brought a breach of contract lawsuit against Eddie Jackson, a former NFL player and current celebrity chef, for promoting a meat alternative.
The suit was filed Feb. 2 in Harris County District Court and also names Eddie Jackson Enterprises LLC as a defendant.
According to the lawsuit, the Texas Beef Council’s primary mission is to strengthen the demand for beef as the world’s most preferred and trusted protein with an emphasis on beef in Texas. The council entered into a contract with Jackson in November 2020 to use his celebrity to build brand awareness and drive beef sales in Texas.
The parties entered into another contract to run from Nov. 1, 2021 to Dec. 31, 2022. Each contract has restrictions on Jackson entering into partnership agreements promoting competing protein-based foods, the suit states.
“Nonetheless, soon after Jackson signed his second contract, his agent notified the Texas Beef Council that Jackson and his entity had partnered with Sweet Earth Enlightened Foods to promote its Plant-Based Chik’n brand in connection with the lead up to the NFL Super Bowl,” the suit states.
According to the suit, the Texas Beef Council sent a letter to Jackson and his agent on Jan. 19 notifying them of the breach of contract and demanding that they cancel the deal with Sweet Earth Foods, but they “failed to respond or comply.”
The Texas Beef Council is represented by Brian Zimmerman and Nicholas Reisch, attorneys for the Spencer Fane law firm in Houston.
Case No. 2022-06769