Kraft “Natural” Fat-Free Cheese Challenged in Puerto Rico Court

A consumer has filed a putative class action against Kraft Foods Group
Inc. alleging that the company’s fat-free cheese is mislabeled as “natural”
because it contains artificial or synthetic ingredients, including “artificial
color.” Quiñones-Gonzalez v. Kraft Foods Grp., Inc., No. 15-1892
(D.P.R., filed July 27, 2015). The plaintiff asserts that she relied on the
“natural” label to mean that the product, “at a minimum, has no artificial
ingredients or characteristics. The public is further led to believe the
Product will be healthier, safer and/or produced to a higher standard.”
She seeks class certification, an injunction, restitution and damages for
allegations of deceptive and unfair marketing and unjust enrichment. A
class was certified in June 2015 in a similar lawsuit pending in California
federal court; details about the ruling appear in Issue 570 of this Update.

Issue 573