
365 Whole Foods Market Plant-Based Flushable Wipes
Allegations: Falsely marketing products as plant-based
January 2016: A federal judge dismissed this lawsuit after the parties reached a settlement agreement, the terms of which have not yet been disclosed.
October 2015: This lawsuit was transferred to federal court. (Burgos et al v. Whole Foods Market Group, Inc., Case No. 15-cv-7357, D. NJ.)
August 2015: A class-action lawsuit was filed against Whole Foods for allegedly misleading consumers by failing to post prices on its merchandise prior to sale, in violation of New Jersey law. (Burgos et al v. Whole Foods Market Group Inc., Case No. L-6050-15, Superior Court of New Jersey, Essex County)
For more information about other class-action lawsuits filed against Whole Foods and TINA.org’s coverage of the company, click here.
Allegations: Falsely marketing products as plant-based
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing that products contain “Real Organic Cheddar Cheese”
Allegations: Falsely marketing that Amazon Prime members receive free 2-hour delivery of groceries when Amazon charges consumers a $9.95 service fee for grocery deliveries from Whole Foods Market
Allegations: Failing to adequately disclose a $2 deposit fee in advertised retail prices
Allegations: Failing to disclose that products contain a bacterium that could lead to serious adverse health consequences
Allegations: Falsely marketing supplements as glucosamine sulfate when they don’t contain any glucosamine sulfate
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing products as “whole grain”
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing the weight of fish in products as higher than it actually is
Allegations: Falsely marketing pizzas as being 18 inches when they are actually 16 inches
Allegations: Falsely marketing the amount of Omega-3 fatty acids in each serving
Allegations: Deceptively using slack-filled packaging and misleadingly marketing its commitment to environmental stewardship
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing ice cream bars as dipped in chocolate when the coating actually contains more vegetable oil than cacao ingredients
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing that the main flavoring ingredient is vanilla when the Ingredients list does not contain a vanilla ingredient
Allegations: Failing to disclose that products contain, or are at risk of containing, toxic heavy metals
Allegations: False “Animal Welfare Certified” and “No Antibiotics, Ever” claims
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing the ingredients in Organic 365 Honey Graham Crackers
Allegations: Misleadingly listing “organic dehydrated cane juice solids” as an ingredient when it’s actually sugar
Allegations: Falsely marketing lemons and raspberries as the main flavoring ingredients
Allegations: Failing to disclose that foods contain allergens
Allegations: Failing to disclose that vanilla flavor comes from artificial flavors
TINA.org has tracked more than 150 lawsuits alleging greenwashing.
Consumers also have a beef with claim that meat is “animal welfare certified.”
These marketing claims are feeling the heat.
TINA.org is currently tracking 70 class actions challenging claims that a variety of foods and beverages are truly vanilla.