A consumer has alleged that The Kroger Co. misleads with its packaging for sparkling water products sold with flavors such as "Black Cherry," "White Grape" and "Kiwi Strawberry" because the waters are purportedly flavored artificially rather than with extracts of the fruits. Gammino v. Kroger Co., No. 21-2933 (N.D. Cal., filed April 22, 2021). The complaint asserts that Kroger's "packaging, labeling, and advertising scheme for these Products is intended to give consumers the impression that they are buying a premium, all-natural product instead of a product that is artificially flavored." The plaintiff asserts that the flavoring in the beverages comes from malic acid, "a synthetic chemical manufactured in a petrochemical factory from petroleum feedstocks." The complaint lists several causes of action, including alleged violations of Ohio and California's consumer-protection statutes as well as fraud by omission, negligent misrepresentation and money had and received.
Tag Archives artificial flavor
Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc. has agreed to pay $5.4 million to settle claims that it misleadingly advertised its beverages as lacking artificial flavors despite containing malic avid. Hilsley v. Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc., No. 17-2335 (S.D. Cal., filed November 8, 2019). Under the agreement, the company will stop using the phrase "no artificial flavors" on its labeling or in other marketing materials within 12 months. Class members may receive $1 per bottle up to 20 bottles, and no proof of purchase will be required.
Friendly's Manufacturing and Retail markets its ice-cream products as "flavored exclusively from vanilla beans" but uses artificial flavors in at least 57 products, including cakes, cartons, cones, bars and sandwiches, according to a consumer's putative class action. Charles v. Friendly's Mfg. & Retail LLC, No. 19-6571 (S.D.N.Y., filed July 15, 2019). The complaint asserts that Friendly's sells its products as "vanilla" flavored but does not use vanilla-derived flavor. "The Products are misleading because they are marketed as vanilla ice cream adjacent to other vanilla ice cream products which contain vanilla flavoring exclusively from vanilla beans," the plaintiff argues, providing a competitor's label showing "vanilla extract" as an ingredient. "Where two similarly labeled products are situated in the same category or section of a store and their representations as to quality and/or fill are identical, yet the former is lacking the quantity of the characterizing ingredient (vanilla) or qualities, the reasonable…
A plaintiff has alleged that Ferrara Candy Co. misleads consumers by labeling its candies as containing no artificial flavors while including malic acid as an ingredient. Gruber v. Ferrara Candy Co., No. 19-4700 (N.D. Ill., E. Div., filed July 12, 2019). The complaint echoes other putative class actions alleging that the "malic acid" listed as an ingredient is more specifically "dl-malic acid," a synthetic food additive that can add tartness. The plaintiff alleges that he paid money for products—including Nerds, Sprees, Laffy Taffy and Everlasting Gobstoppers—that he would not have purchased if he had known that they contained artificial ingredients; further, "[w]orse than the lost money, the Plaintiff, the Class, and Sub-Class were deprived of their protected interest to choose the foods and ingredients they ingest." For an alleged violation of Illinois consumer-protection law as well as fraud, unjust enrichment and breach of express warranty, the plaintiff seeks class certification,…
A consumer has filed a putative class action alleging that Stewart's Fountain Classics beverages are misleadingly marketed as having a "Creamy Vanilla Taste" despite containing artificial flavors. Dalton v. Mott's LLP, No. 19-2960 (E.D.N.Y., filed May 19, 2019). The plaintiff admits that the label discloses the product contains artificial flavors but argues that the "nostalgic imagery and glass bottles assist in focusing the consumers' attention on the upper-right characterizing flavor claim, and away from the inconspicuous disclosure of artificial flavors at the bottom of the label." For alleged violations of California's consumer-protection statutes, negligent misrepresentation, fraud and unjust enrichment, the plaintiff seeks class certification, injunctive relief, damages and attorney's fees.
