Smartfood Popcorn
Allegations: Falsely marketing products as containing natural ingredients and no artificial or preservative ingredients
Pure Leaf Iced Tea “All Natural” Claims
March 2018: A federal judge dismissed the claims relating to Pepsi’s carbonated soft drinks When a complaint is dismissed without prejudice, an amended version of the complaint can be refiled. concluding that the complaint did not adequately allege reliance (i.e., that plaintiffs relied on the alleged misleading marketing in making their purchasing decisions). The judge also found that a reasonable consumer would not be deceived by the labels.
December 2017: The Maxwell action was stayed pending the FDA’s decision regarding the use of the word “natural.”
December 2016: A federal judge ordered that the Maxwell and Cruz-Acevedo actions are related.
September 2016: The Cruz-Acevedo action was transferred to a California court where a similar lawsuit regarding Lipton tea products, Maxwell v. Unilever, is pending. According to the Maxwell action, the marketing for tea products misleadingly claims that teas provide various health benefits and are natural. To learn more about the allegations, click here to read the complaint. (Maxwell et al v. Unilever, Case No. 12-cv-1736, N.D. Cal.)
June 2015: The Laboon action was voluntarily dismissed When a complaint is dismissed with prejudice, it cannot be refiled., the reasons for which have not been disclosed.
April 2015 – August 2015: Three class-action lawsuits were filed against Unilever and PepsiCo for allegedly falsely advertising Pure Leaf Iced Tea as “All Natural” when it actually contains unnatural ingredients. To read each complaint, click on the case information below.
- Laboon et al v. Unilever United States, Inc. and PepsiCo, Inc., Case No. 15-cv-60914, S.D. Fla.,
- Ren et al v. Unilever United States Inc., PepsiCo, Inc., and Pepsi Lipton Tea Parntership, Case No. 156463/2015, Supreme Court of the State of New York
- Cruz-Acevedo et al v. Unilever United States, Inc., PepsiCo, Inc., and The Pepsi Lipton Tea Parntership, Case No. 15-cv-2175, D.P.R.
For more information about other class-action lawsuits regarding natural claims and TINA.org’s coverage of the issue, click here.
Class-Action Tracker
Sea Salt Popcorners
Allegations: Deceptively using slack-filled packaging that is more than half empty
Various Quaker Oats Bars and Cereals
Allegations: Failing to disclose that products contain, or are at risk of containing, salmonella
Pure Leaf Tea
Allegations: Falsely marketing products as “Brewed in USA”
Smartfood Popcorns
Allegations: Falsely marketing products as containing no artificial flavors or preservatives
Quaker Oats Granola Bars, Oatmeals, and Cereals
Allegations: Failing to disclose that products contain a dangerous pesticide
Quaker Oats Granola Bars, Cereals, and Other Products
Allegations: Marketing products as high quality and beneficial to health without disclosing that they contain, or are at risk of containing, a harmful bacteria
IZZE Sparkling Juices
Allegations: Falsely marketing juices as containing “no preservatives”
Ceres Juices
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing products as “100% Juice Blend[s]” that contain “No Preservatives”
Chocolate in Starbucks, Mars, and The Quaker Oats Company Products
Allegations: Misleadingly representing that cocoa has been harvested following ethical and environmentally responsible standards
Gatorade Fit
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing beverages as “Real Healthy Hydration,” having “No Sugar Added,” and being an “Excellent Source of Vitamin A & C” without meeting the FDA’s requirements to make such…
SIMPLY Granola Products
Allegations: Falsely marketing products as if the only ingredients are the ones shown on the front label
Quaker Granola Bars
Allegations: Falsely advertising products as having “No Artificial Preservatives”
Tostitos Hint of Lime Chips
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing that lime is a flavoring ingredient in the chips when the ingredients list reveals the chips do not contain any limes and the flavor comes from unspecified…
Ruffles Baked Cheddar and Sour Cream Potato Chips
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing that sour cream is a flavoring ingredient when the sour cream flavor comes from an artificial ingredient
Quaker Oats Products
Ruffles Baked Cheddar and Sour Cream Potato Chips
Naked Pure Coconut Water
Ruffles Cheddar & Sour Cream Potato Chips
Trop 50 Fruit Juices and other Tropicana Drinks
Ruffles Cheddar and Sour Cream Potato Chips
Tropicana Essentials Probiotics Fruit Juices
Tropicana Orange Juice
Tropicana Pure Premium 100% Orange Juice with Calcium & Vitamin D
Diet Pepsi
Various Quaker Oats Products
Izze Sparkling Beverages
Quaker Oats Natural Claims
Frito-Lay’s Food Products
Naked Juice
Frito-Lay’s Pretzels
Lay’s Potato Chips, Fritos, and Other Frito-Lay Snacks
Pepsi One
Pepsi One Soft Drinks
Pepsi Soft Drinks
KeVita Kombucha Beverages
Frito-Lay “All Natural” Bean Dip
Quaker Oats Maple & Brown Sugar Instant Oatmeal
Naked Pressed Juices
Frito-Lay Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips
Naked Beverages
PepsiCo Beverages
Spitz Sunflower Seeds
Izze Sodas
Pepsi One and Diet Pepsi
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