Walmart
TINA.org investigations into Walmart have revealed that the retail giant repeatedly engaged in false and deceptive Made in USA marketing on its website, and used undisclosed stealth marketing directed at…
Great Value Cornstarch Food Products
February 2016: A federal judge granted final approval of the settlement.
May 2015: A federal judge preliminarily approved a $515,000 settlement of a false advertising class-action lawsuit against Karlin Foods Corp. The complaint, which was originally filed in August 2014, alleges that Great Value Cornstarch food products (sold at Walmart and other food stores) are marketed as being “All Natural” when they actually contain unnatural, synthetic, artificial, and genetically modified ingredients. According to the settlement terms, class members may receive a $1 refund for each product purchased. Class members without proof of purchase may receive a maximum of $2 and class members with proof of purchase may receive a maximum of $8. In addition, the company agreed to stop falsely representing that the products are “All Natural.” (Teufel et al v. Karlin Foods Corp., Case No. 14-cv-23100, S. D. FL.)
For more information about other TINA.org’s coverage of Walmart, click here.
Legal Action
Class-Action Tracker
Great Value Macaroni & Cheese Original Cups
Allegations: Falsely marketing that products contain no artificial flavors or preservatives
Great Value Mac and Cheese Cups
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing that products are made with real cheddar cheese
Great Value Diced Peaches
Allegations: Falsely marketing that the peaches come in “100% Juice”
Several Brands of Frozen Waffles and Pancakes
Allegations: Failing to disclose that products are contaminated with the bacterium listeria monocytogenes
Great Value Refined Avocado Oil
Allegations: Falsely marketing products as avocado oil
Great Value Coffee Creamer
Allegations: Products contain fewer servings than advertised
Great Value Apple Juice
Allegations: Failing to disclose that products contain, or are at risk of containing, more inorganic arsenic than the FDA allows in apple juice
Hefty and Great Value Recycling Bags
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing products as “recycling” bags
Great Value Peach Tea Drink Enhancer
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing products using the phrase “Natural Flavor With Other Natural Flavors”
Great Value Mixed Fruit Cups
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing products as “Mixed Fruit in 100% juice”
Sunrise Growers Frozen Fruit Products
Allegations: Failing to disclose that products contain a bacterium that could lead to serious adverse health consequences
Great Value Whole Grain Saltine Crackers
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing crackers as “Made With Whole Grain”
Great Value Fruit & Grain Cereal Bars
Allegations: Failing to adequately disclose that products contain an artificial ingredient that enhances the characterizing fruit flavors
Great Value Fruit and Grain Cereal Bars and Great Value Drink Enhancers
Allegations: False natural claims
Great Value Apple Juice
Allegations: Failing to disclose that products contain chemical preservatives
Great Value Recycling Drawstring Bags
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing products as “recycling” bags that are “designed to handle everyday recycling loads around the house” and “easy sorting for municipal recycling programs” when the bags are made…
Great Value Veggie Straws
Allegations: Falsely marketing products as containing “No Artificial Flavors or Preservatives” when they contain a chemical preservative and a synthetic flavoring ingredient
Great Value Fudge Mint Cookies
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing ingredients in cookies
Great Value Honey Mustard
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing that honey is the primary sweetener
Great Value Coffee Creamer
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing the product as coffee creamer
Great Value Oats & Honey Crunchy Granola Bars
Allegations: Falsely marketing the ingredients in granola bars
Great Value Reduced Fat Mayo With Olive Oil
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing products as made with olive oil when the ingredients list shows they contain more soybean oil than olive oil
Canisters of Great Value Ground Coffee
In August 2020, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Walmart for allegedly falsely representing that Great Value ground coffee products will make a specific number of cups of coffee when,…
Great Value Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
In November 2019, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Walmart for allegedly falsely advertising that its Great Value Vanilla Bean Ice Cream is flavored with vanilla when, according to plaintiffs,…
Great Value LED Light Bulbs
In November 2019, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Wal-Mart for allegedly falsely advertising that its Great Value LED light bulbs are ENERGY STAR® qualified, use less energy, and cost…
Great Value Graham Crackers
In January 2019, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Walmart for allegedly misleadingly representing that the main ingredient in Great Value Graham Crackers is graham flour (a coarse, whole grain…
Various Parmesan Cheese Products
June 2016: This case was transferred to a multidistrict litigation (MDL) to be heard with similar lawsuits. To learn more about the MDL, click here. March 2016: A class-action lawsuit was…
Great Value 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese
June 2016: All six of these lawsuits were transferred to multidistrict litigation (MDL) to be heard with similar lawsuits. For more information about the MDL, click here. Early 2016: In…
100% Parmesan Cheese Products
June 2016: This case was transferred to multidistrict litigation (MDL) to be heard with other lawsuits. For more information about the MDL, click here. March 2016: A class-action lawsuit was…
Great Value 100% Cranberry Pomegranate Juice
January 2016: This action was voluntarily dismissed because the parties reached a settlement agreement, the terms of which have not been disclosed. The dismissal was When a complaint is dismissed…
Great Value All Natural Pita Chips
In March 2017, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Walmart for allegedly falsely advertising Great Value All Natural Pita Chips as “All Natural” when, in reality, they contain synthetic and…
Great Value Pork & Beans in Tomato Sauce
November 2016: A federal judge granted a stay in this case until after a ruling in a case, Briseño v. ConAgra Foods, Inc., pending in the Ninth Circuit Court of…
Walmart’s Great Value 100% Cranberry Pomegranate Juice
April 2015: The named plaintiff voluntarily dismissed the complaint. The complaint was dismissed without prejudice, meaning that the complaint can be refiled. February 2015: A class-action lawsuit was filed against…
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