Quaker Oats Granola Bars, Oatmeals, and Cereals
Allegations: Failing to disclose that products contain a dangerous pesticide
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
Various Quaker Oats Bars and Cereals
Allegations: Failing to disclose that products contain, or are at risk of containing, salmonella
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
February 2019: This case was voluntarily dismissed When a complaint is dismissed without prejudice, an amended version of the complaint can be refiled., the reasons for which have not been…
Ruffles Baked Cheddar and Sour Cream Potato Chips
In September 2020, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Frito-Lay for allegedly misleadingly marketing that the sour cream flavor in Ruffles Baked Cheddar and Sour Cream Potato Chips comes from…
Naked Pure Coconut Water
In August 2020, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Naked Juice Co. of Glendora for allegedly misleadingly marketing its coconut water as “pure” without adequately disclosing that the product contains…
Ruffles Cheddar & Sour Cream Potato Chips
April 2020: This case was transferred from state court to federal court. (Case No. 20-cv-714, C.D. Cal.) March 2020: A class-action lawsuit was filed against Frito-Lay for allegedly failing to…
Trop 50 Fruit Juices and other Tropicana Drinks
In February 2020, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Tropicana Manufacturing Company for allegedly misleadingly marketing fruit juices – including Trop 50 Farmstand Apple, Trop 50 Orange Mango, Trop 50…
Ruffles Cheddar and Sour Cream Potato Chips
In March 2020, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Frito-Lay for allegedly failing to disclose on the front label of Ruffles Cheddar and Sour Cream potato chips that they contain…
Tropicana Essentials Probiotics Fruit Juices
In December 2018, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Tropicana for allegedly deceptively marketing that the “essential” probiotics in its Essentials Probiotics fruit juices provide health and nutrition benefits without…
Tropicana Orange Juice
June 2019: A federal judge denied the renewed motion for class certification concluding that the proposed classes did not meet all of the requirements for class certification. October 2018: Plaintiffs…
Tropicana Pure Premium 100% Orange Juice with Calcium & Vitamin D
In June 2019, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Tropicana Manufacturing and Pepsico for allegedly falsely marketing its Tropicana Pure Premium 100% Orange Juice with Calcium & Vitamin D as…
Diet Pepsi
March 2019: The Second Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the district court’s dismissal concluding that the plaintiffs cannot plausibly allege that the use of the word diet is misleading. June…
Various Quaker Oats Products
In October 2018, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Pepsico and The Quaker Oats Company for allegedly deceptively marketing products – including Quaker Old Fashioned Oats, Quaker Instant Oatmeal, Quaker…
Izze Sparkling Beverages
In June 2018, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Pepsico for allegedly falsely marketing Izze Sparkling beverages as having “No Preservatives” when, according to the complaint, the drinks contain the…
Quaker Oats Natural Claims
May 2018: After the Panitch case was stayed pending the outcome in Gibson, a federal judge granted the company’s motion for judgment in Panitch and entered a judgment in favor…
Frito-Lay’s Food Products
March 2018: The appeal was voluntarily dismissed When a complaint is dismissed with prejudice, it cannot be refiled., the reasons for which have not been disclosed. (Case No. 17-16817, 9th…
Naked Juice
April 2014: The four appeals were voluntarily dismissed, the reasons for which were not disclosed. Click on the links below to see each motion and order. Andersen Motion and Order…
Frito-Lay’s Pretzels
September 2014: This action was voluntarily dismissed, the reasons for which have not been disclosed. August 2014: A federal judge granted in part and denied in part Frito-Lay’s motion to…
Lay’s Potato Chips, Fritos, and Other Frito-Lay Snacks
October 2015: This action was voluntarily dismissed When a complaint is dismissed without prejudice, an amended version of the complaint can be refiled., the reasons for which have not been…
Pepsi One
June 2014: This case was consolidated with six related cases: Sciortino, Cortina, Granados, Ibusuki, Ree, Aourout, and Hall. To learn more about the status of the consolidated action, click here.…
Pepsi One Soft Drinks
June 2014: Both cases were consolidated with six related cases: Sciortino, Cortina, Granados, Ibusuki, Ree, Aourout, and Hall. To learn more about the status of the consolidated action, click here.…
Pepsi Soft Drinks
June 2014: This lawsuit was consolidated with six related cases: Sciortino, Cortina, Granados, Ibusuki, Ree, Aourout, and Hall. To learn more about the status of the consolidated action, click here.…
KeVita Kombucha Beverages
In October 2017, a class-action lawsuit was filed against KeVita Inc. and Pepsico for allegedly deceptively marketing that KeVita Master Brew kombucha products have probiotics and provide various health benefits…
Frito-Lay “All Natural” Bean Dip
November 2017: A federal judge granted final approval of the settlement agreement. August 2017: A federal judge granted preliminary approval of a settlement agreement. According to the settlement terms, the…
Quaker Oats Maple & Brown Sugar Instant Oatmeal
October 2017: A federal judge dismissed this action finding that state law claims were preempted by federal law and the complaint failed to state a claim. Plaintiffs have until November…
Naked Pressed Juices
In August 2017, a class-action lawsuit was filed against PepsiCo and Naked Juice for allegedly falsely advertising Naked Pressed juices as being cold pressed (a process used to make liquid…
Frito-Lay Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips
A false advertising class-action lawsuit was filed against Frito-Lay. Specifically, the complaint alleges that the company falsely markets Salt and Vinegar Flavored Potato Chips as being natural and containing no…
Naked Beverages
February 2017: This action was voluntarily dismissed When a complaint is dismissed with prejudice, it cannot be refiled.because the parties reached a settlement agreement. According to the agreement, the company…
PepsiCo Beverages
August 2016: A federal judge granted final approval of a settlement in which PepsiCo agreed to take steps to ensure products comply with the law and test products according to…
Spitz Sunflower Seeds
In October 2016, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Spitz International for allegedly falsely advertising Spitz Sunflower Seeds as edible when the product is “inedible and dangerous for consumption” because…
Izze Sodas
In August 2016, a class-action lawsuit was filed against PepsiCo and Izze Beverage Co. for allegedly deceptively marketing Izze Sodas. Specifically, the complaint alleges that the companies claim the sodas…
Pepsi One and Diet Pepsi
March 2015: A federal judge granted Pepsico’s motion to dismiss this lawsuit finding, among other things, that the plaintiffs did not sufficiently plead causation and injury. The judge dismissed the…
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