LAWRENCE -- A popular New Jersey dairy known for its low-priced, high-quality products is suing the makers of Halo Top ice cream alleging trademark infringement.

Lawrence-based Halo Farm filed the lawsuit earlier this month against California-based Eden Creamery, saying that the "confusingly similar" brand names is hurting its hard-earned reputation.

The lawsuit demands that the company stop using the Halo Top name, recall and destroy all existing products and pay Halo Farm unspecified damages for its lost profits.

Halo Top ice cream is sold across the country, but has recently begun appearing in stores in New Jersey and the Trenton area, the lawsuit says. It is advertised as low in calories and sugar, but high in protein.

Halo Farm products, including its ice cream, milk, juices and fruit drinks, are only available in New Jersey. But the company says Halo Top is confusing its customers into believing their products are healthy or diet offerings from Halo Farm.

Halo Farm also contends in its lawsuit that Halo Top's use of certain ingredients such as the sweetener stevia, sugar alcohol erythritol and prebiotic fiber can lead to allergic reactions, stomach irritation, bloating and other intestinal issues.

"To the extent a customer encountering the defendant's products are deceived ... an unsatisfying experience with defendant's product -- perhaps because of inferior taste or mouthfeel, or worse, because of bloating, abdominal discomfort, flatulence, an allergic reaction, or diarrhea -- is going to reflect badly upon Halo Farm, thereby damaging its reputation and the goodwill associated with the family of Halo trademarks," the lawsuit reads.

Halo Farm was started in 1975 by Jerry Reilly, who wanted to build a dairy with a store attached to avoid trucking perishable products for miles. The company says the result is fresher, more affordable dairy products than what is found in supermarkets.

The lawsuit says that sales have totaled more than $6 million in each of the past five years at its Lawrence creamery and more than $5 million at its ice-cream parlors in Hamilton and Princeton. Halo Farm also donates "tens of thousands of dollars" worth of products annually and has been a significant financial supporter of Paul Newman's "Hole in the Wall Gang" camp for children with serious illnesses.

Halo Top, meanwhile, was founded in 2011 by Justin Woolverton, a former lawyer who had hypoglycemic diet restrictions. An email seeking comment was sent to the company.

Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find NJ.com on Facebook.